3D printed razor by Gillette honors 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing
50 years ago, three American astronauts would make history, becoming the first humans to reach and—in the case of two of them—step foot on the moon. Though we don’t often think of it, on the long journey to and from the moon, the astronauts required some pretty mundane items—like brushes, sunglasses and razors. In fact, Collins’ Gillette brand razor and shaving cream are now kept on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
This fact makes it all the more endearing to learn that Gillette is commemorating the Apollo 11’s mission with the launch of the Apollo Collection by Razor Maker. The limited edition razor, exclusively available on Gillette’s website, features a 3D printed handle whose design is inspired by the pocked surface of the moon.
The moonscape handle also bears the iconic “one small step” boot imprint on its front surface. The back bears NASA’s logo from the time—the iconic “meatball” insignia. The Razor Maker Apollo, which comes with at least one blade refill, can be purchased for $62 (admittedly more than your standard razor, but there’s no denying that the limited moonscape handle would make shaving a lot more exciting!).
The Apollo razor by Gillette is part of the company’s Razor Maker initiative, which was formed in partnership with 3D printing company Formlabs. Together, Gillette and Formlabs are leveraging the latter’s SLA 3D printing technology to produce custom handles for razors. According to Formlabs, the razors are one of the first instances of “direct-to-consumer, end-use 3D printed parts.”
The Razor Maker collection comprises a number of handle designs, each of which could not be produced using a technology other than 3D printing. When customers order a bespoke razor—choosing their preferred design and color—the handles are manufactured on demand at Gillette’s headquarters in Boston, MA.
