trying to make sense of the brain fluff

One of the reasons why I am arguing technology helps sustainable fashion is because of the ability to make bespoke items at a reduced cost.

Examples:

Digital Printing

Spoonflower offer a screen printing service for your fabric. It started just as quilting fabric but is branching out and other fabrics are being added like cotton jersey, a heavier cotton sateen and silk habotai.

How can digital printing be more ecological?

Because digital screen printing negates old fashioned large-run printing. Whilst arguably digital screen printing is not squeaky clean, there are chemicals and of course there are machines that need powering, at least it is only producing the quantity required. You used to have to produce 1000's of meters, now you can literally print 1. It is affordable, no plates need to be made up. It is more expensive of course, should you need a large run, but for short runs it is brilliant. A dress can be printed as it will be made up, like the cloth kits patterns from when I was a child. This is good. This means people who are designing for specific things can design just the quantity required. No surplus (or very little) is required.

Of course digitally printing your 1metre of fabric from the states and having it flown over here raises many more alarms, but slowly the technology is migrating. There are companies now in the Uk, Germany... in time digital print-shops capable of specialisms will be ubiquitous

3D digital printing

This is all very new, but the possibilities are mind blowing. Okay, yes, we are talking plastics, not very eco. BUT, what about those made for measure killer heels? Not quite so killer if they are made to perfectly fit your feet? You might wear them a few more times? I don't know, this is pushing the definition of green somewhat, but how many shoes have women bought, only for them to rest in the wardrobe after only one wear because they murder her feet?
Technology could be employed to such a degree that, like a 21st century version of those machines that measured your feet in Startrite, they could measure not only your literal measurements, but your gate, your instep, every minutiae of how you walk and make the PERFECT shoes for you. Made to measure traditionally has meant a very long wait, which on one hand, if we are going the slow fashion route, does not matter-if it takes three months to make but it will still be in fashion in 3 or even 30 years then that wait is unimportant, but what if 3d printing progresses to such a degree that anyone would happily buy them? What if Peacocks had a 3D printer in store?
Unlike clothes, shoes are even more open for a longevity; you can put on or lose quite a lot of weight and while that beautiful coat is not going to fit and a replacement will be needed, your shoes are more than likely still going to fit.

http://www.ecouterre.com/3d-printed-rapidprototyped-shoes-revolutionizing-the-industry/#more-25686