Representing Singapore in the 71st Miss Universe competition Carissa Yap is set a wow to the world with a stunning 3-D printed orchid costume.
You’d know by now that beauty pageants don’t just crown the prettiest girl as the winner ‒ there are other factors like personality and presentation. For viewers like me who’ve always enjoyed watching the national costume segment, chances are, you’ll be impressed by the one Miss Universe Singapore Carissa Yap will be wearing this year.
Singapore might be a small nation but we are strong in fields like R&D and innovation. That said, it might not come as a surprise to some that this year’s national costume is put together by 3-D printing and delicate craftsmanship. Paying tribute to Singapore’s national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim, Carissa’s costume features intricate details of the orchid in white.
A total of more than 200 3-D printed lattices were hand-assembled onto the costume, each representing a different part of the floral such as the veins of the leaves and vines. The headpiece also holds a special significance ‒ it provides Carissa with an asymmetrical element that contributes to her overall appearance. All the 3-D printed lattices are lightweight to ensure Carissa won’t have much trouble moving in the costume.
Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice five main orchid petals that frame Carissa’s upper torso with a high-rising collar and outstretched wings. These pieces come together to form the silhouette of the islands of Singapore, which reflect the effort that went into the design of the costume. If you’re wondering how the designers managed to create the 3-D pieces with such sophisticated details, the answer lies in the invention of their own composite-making process. It allows the 3-D flowers to be sculpted freely by hand and maintain the resulting shape.
Mad respect to Baëlf Design, who spent more than 4 months designing the costume, and 2 months printing the 3-D lattices. That’s not all ‒ the ensemble is completed with a bodysuit that is bedazzled with red sequins by Couturier Fredrick Lee, which gives a shoutout to Singapore’s national colours, red and white.
Subscribe to AM Chronicle Newsletter to stay connected: https://bit.ly/3fBZ1mP
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IjhrFq
Visit for more interesting content on additive manufacturing: https://amchronicle.com
