Additive manufacturing company Rapid Liquid Print has produced a handbag for French fashion brand Coperni utilising rapid liquid 3D-printing technology.
Presented as part of Coperni’s Spring Summer 2025 show, the Ariel Swipe bag is made by piping liquid silicone into the desired shape in a gel suspension, which holds the silicone in place until it has solidified.
This process, known as rapid liquid printing, is a new form of 3D printing developed by researchers from MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab, who founded Rapid Liquid Print (RLP) to commercialise the technology.
“Traditional 3D-printing methods are limited by layer-by-layer deposition and the need for structural supports,” co-founder Schendy Kernizan told Dezeen.
“RLP’s innovative process overcomes these challenges by printing directly into a reusable gel matrix, enabling non-planar printing,” he explained.
“The silicone used in this process chemically cures at room temperature, allowing the creation of complex, large-scale and high-resolution elastomeric products.”
This method of 3D printing allows for larger, more complex designs to be brought to life than is possible with existing printing methods.
“RLP’s innovative process eliminates gravity as a design challenge, enabling the creation of intricate geometries that would otherwise be impossible,” Kernizan said.
According to the company, rapid liquid printing can also turn these intricate designs around at a notably faster rate, with printing time taking as little as a few minutes – although the curing time of the silicone still needs to be factored in.
“This opens up possibilities for rapid, cost-effective production across multiple industries, which will allow for high-volume production that can cater to both custom and large-scale manufacturing demands,” Kernizan said.
The process does not involve toxic chemicals, according to RLP, meaning the bag can be handled immediately after it has finished curing.
“The print can be easily extracted from the gel, with post-processing requiring just a simple water rinse,” Kernizan explained.
Working with Coperni was the company’s first international fashion collaboration, though Kernizan says “it won’t be the last”.
“As with many of the industries we collaborate with, I believe RLP will inspire innovative approaches to design and manufacturing, resulting in truly unique products,” he added.
The Ariel Swipe bag was unveiled as part of Coperni’s Paris Fashion Week show at Disneyland Paris, which presented a collection informed by Disney characters and themes.
The bag’s name was derived from the movie The Little Mermaid and its shape hearkens back to the viral Air Swipe bag Coperni unveiled earlier this year, which is made from 99 per cent air.
Previously, Coperni’s technology-driven approach to fashion saw the brand use spray-on fibres to create a dress live on the runway.
The photography is courtesy of Rapid Liquid Print and Coperni.
