California Apparel News

Kickstarter kicks up a fashion concept again. This time, a group of 3D model makers in Cincinnati are using the crowdfunding site to help launch their 3D-printable fashion doll.

Quin is Barbie-sized (perfect for doll-closet sharing) and looks a little like an alien. Your kids are going to love her.

Quin’s designers are Quincy Robinson, a toy inventor and sculptor who has worked at Mattel and Hasbro, and Natalie Mathis, the director of institutional advancement at Cincinnati museum. The two are founders of a collective called 3DKitBash, which sells 3D files that can be printed or “used entirely in the digital space.”

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/3dprintertest/quin-worlds-first-3d-printable-fashion-doll?play=1&ref=users

According to TechCrunch, the designers hope to inspire other 3D printing enthusiasts to “remix and modify” Quin. “I really see Quin as being more of an inventing/customization platform,” Robinson told TechCrunch. “She can perform like a traditional fashion doll, but I hope her ability to be so many things will appeal to the creative tech savvy builders out there that need a no-mess platform to demo their thoughts on.”

For example, the designers write on their Kickstarter page, “Let’s say you want Quin to wear Barbie shoes. If you have a file for Quin’s lower leg that matches Barbie’s foot profile, you just need to print that file and replace her previous lower legs with the new Barbie-like feet. Now your Quin will be able to wear most any Barbie shoe you've previously purchased.”

With the 3D file, you can print Quin over and over again from your desktop 3D printer, but you’ll have to go old school to wardrobe her.

3DKitBash is looking for $10,000 to launch Quin. A pledge of $55 and up will get you the first crack at the 3D model file to print your own Quin doll. Higher pledges can get additional hair styles, eyes or hands. There’s a few fashion pledge levels that will get you Quin-sized (but not 3D-printed) clothing to go with your printable doll. There’s even a pledge level for people who want an already printed doll that comes with clothing and other “3D printed goodies.”