Wardrobe hang-ups? 3D printing offers a tailor-made solution

As the driving force behind design studio KAYIWA, the Finnish-Ugandan designer Lincoln Kayiwa draws on principles and aesthetic elements from the cultures and traditions of African and Nordic art, craft and design. His portfolio of “collectible, customizable” products, executed in strong, bold colors, is characterized by a strong sense of artistic fun combined with function: these are products that are designed to be used by real people.

Now, KAYIWA has discovered the possibilities of 3D printing. Working in collaboration with
Belgium-based Materialise NV, a pioneer in the development of additive manufacturing software and sophisticated 3D printing services, the newest product to emerge from Lincoln Kayiwa’s studio is a series of 3D printed cloth racks, called DINO. The design and engineering team at Materialise worked closely with the design studio in order to create a design that worked and was ready for additive manufacturing. This guaranteed a perfect and repeatable quality that meets KAYIWA’s standards,” said Karel Honings, Project Manager at Materialise.

The DINO clothes rack is an outstanding example of the way the KAYIWA studio maintains a precise balance between design and function. With simple aesthetics that will appeal to users around the world, the DINO rack serves as a functional furnishing piece that fits in a foyer, lounge, cloakroom, walk-in closet, wardrobe or a fashion boutique.

“During the last decade, 3D printing technology advanced considerably, which allowed the true vision for DINO to be realized,” said Mr. Kayiwa. “In line with KAYIWA’s sustainability values, hangers are produced only to meet the exact demand. The remaining polyamide powder from the laser-sintered parts is reused. Nothing goes to waste.”

The 3D printed hangers are suspended along an electro-polished stainless steel bar with spacers in between, enabling them to remain organized and to swing back and forth and move sideways comfortably for efficient hanging and clothing removal. The hangers can be made in varying heights, leaving hanging space for long coats or making them easy to reach for children and people on a wheelchair. In addition, hangers can be hung on the bar in any order, according to user preference. Their textured finish and ergonomic shape ensure that the clothes cannot slip off.

The DINO clothes rack is available in three editions: straight, wavy and modular, and in the eight KAYIWA standard colors (black, blue, green, orange, red, violet, white and yellow), but is also customizable to match the current style of any space, or decorated with a specific logo or color scheme.