Disrupting Global Footwear Market With Tech
LATEST BLOGS
Pxl Shoe Customization Platform
Post by Charlie White on Jul 17, 2019
Customization has been integrating into the footwear industry for a while. It helps provide a personalized product that no one else possesses. Pxl is launching a platform for users to create, share, and collaborate on customized footwear. Digital footwear design tools have evolved into robust technology such as Romans CAD...
TripleCell 3D Printing
Post by Charlie White on Jul 07, 2019
New Balance has shown an interest in 3D printing since 2016 when it released the Zante Generate shoe, which features a 3D printed midsole. About a year later New Balance announced a partnership with Formlabs to help develop high-performance material, hardware, and process for athletic footwear. Now, New Balance has...
Z-Sharp 3D Midsoles
Post by Charlie White on Jul 01, 2019
Additive manufacturing startup Z-Sharp 3D Technology has invested about $3 million into a new printing facility in the city of Wuhu, China. The facility is being used to produce 3D printed TPU midsoles for sports footwear. According to the project manager, Zhou Yalei, the company has installed 15 Selective Laser...
OurOwnSkin 3D Footwear
Post by Charlie White on Jun 24, 2019
Footwear designer and researcher, Liz Ciokajlo, is focusing on the impact of material innovation and emerging making processes. Her plan is to bring a fresh look to how materials and technologies can reshape fashion footwear through her firm OurOwnSkin. Liz studied at the University of Cincinnati with industrial design. Afterward,...
Bio-Leather Shoes
Post by Charlie White on Jun 05, 2019
Livne has designed sneakers with alternative leather inserts that are made from wasted fat, bones, and blood of animals. The sneakers were designed as part of Livne’s Meat Factory project. It’s a series of material experiments to turn fat and bones taken from waste streams of slaughterhouses in the Netherlands...
3D Martial Arts Shoes
Post by Charlie White on Jun 02, 2019
At the Wuhan University of Science and Technology, researchers are exploring mass customization. Peng Hong and Xia Xinqiao are using 3D printing to put a spin on manufacturing. Mass usually means large amounts made to look the same and customization refers to unique and small productions, putting them together could...
Origin And 3D Partnerships
Post by Charlie White on May 29, 2019
Origin, who is focused on bringing mass manufacturing to the addictive industry, has introduced a 3D printer. The “Origin One” is an SLA/DLP machine which combines materials, hardware, and software to make high volume 3D printing. With this technology, Origin has partnered with the large shoe manufacturer ECCO. It is...
Nike's 3D Scanning
Post by Charlie White on May 22, 2019
Nike has created an app that can use 3D scanning to recommend a shoe size for consumers. Nike Fit is a foot measuring software with the intention of choosing the correct shoe size. According to them, 60% of customers are walking around with the wrong shoe size. Last year Nike...
3D Printing And The Footwear Industry
Post by Charlie White on May 19, 2019
Consumer applications have presented a challenge for additive manufacturing (AM), but we will see that change as time passes. According to market research, the footwear industry and AM will bring big changes in how consumer products are made. 3D printing has been used for footwear prototyping and will continue to...
Adidas' New Alphaedge 4D
Post by Charlie White on May 17, 2019
Adidas has given a preview about the latest version of its 3D printed shoe, the Alphaedge 4D. The first one was released back in 2018 and was made in collaboration with Carbon. Carbon uses continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) which is a digital light synthesis process. Adidas has been looking...
Patrizio Carlucci Interview (ECCO)
Post by Charlie White on May 12, 2019
Recently there was an interview with Patrizio Carlucci, the head of Innovation Lab ECCO a subsidiary of Danish shoemaker ECCO. The lab is ECCO’s independent cross-disciplinary design studio. They create and deliver projects that focus on alternative production methods and new technologies. The lab’s project QUANT-U is built on industry...
3D Jewelry And Shoes
Post by Charlie White on May 07, 2019
A fashion design graduate, Ganit Goldstein, is one of the many fashion designers who use 3D printing. She recently showed her new experimental collection at Milan Design Week which was called Shifted Craft. The project had the support of Stratasys and included seven pieces of 3D printed jewelry and two...
Voxel8 Design And Production
Post by Charlie White on May 03, 2019
Voxel8 has come up with a multi-material addictive manufacturing solution that focuses on sports shoes and clothing. Instead of just the soles, Voxel8 designs the upper part of the shoe. The ActiveMix process allows 3D printed shoes to feature high performance and reactive polyurethanes. Voxel8 hopes to offer mass customization...
Self-Repairing Sneakers
Post by Charlie White on Apr 29, 2019
Technology is always improving and becoming more advanced. Since the first 3D printer was developed the implications have become almost limitless. There was even a fully-functioning heart created using a 3D printer recently. Qiming Wang, professor at the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering, has come up with...
Y-3 RUNNER 4D II
Post by Charlie White on Apr 25, 2019
Adidas is continuing to expand its Futurecraft 4D shoes with the help of DLS 3D printing technology, with the help of Carbon. Their new shoe, the Y-3 RUNNER 4D II is part of the Y-3 fashion label and is an updated version of previous Y-3 shoes with 4D technology. Following...
Recycled And Re-purposed Shoes
Post by Charlie White on Apr 22, 2019
Each year billions of shoes are worn, fall apart, and then chucked into a landfill. About 300 million pairs of running shoes are thrown away in the UK alone. In an attempt to avoid this Adidas is using its factories to produce shoes that can be ground into pellets, melted...
Formless Heels
Post by Charlie White on Apr 17, 2019
Digital Artisan, JSR Corporation, and Castem have all partnered together to create “formless” high heel shoes. Using an M2 3D printer they made 3D printed molds to form casts of the wedged metal heels. With generative design technology, each pair can be tailored to the appropriate shape based on the...
Alphaedge 4D Sneakers
Post by Charlie White on Apr 08, 2019
Adidas has created 3D printed vegan sneakers. After already having a successful collaboration Adidas and Stella McCartney have decided to work together again. Their goal is to produce an innovative 3D printed shoe for women. In the past, they created the world’s first sustainable activewear line made from ocean plastic,...
ECCO Shoes Partnership
Post by Charlie White on Mar 31, 2019
Footwear manufacturers aim for the perfect fit, perfect comfort, and ultimate performance. ECCO wants to customize shoes for each consumer rather than shoes designed for a standardized foot. For their quantified you (Quant-U) experiment they partnered with Dassault Systèmes who are dedicated to 3D design and applications. Together the companies...
Suavs Flexible Sneakers
Post by Charlie White on Mar 27, 2019
Most consumers want a pair of shoes that are breathable, comfortable, and look good as well. The company Suavs has come out with a pair of sneakers that meet all these criteria. The shoes are made from a soft, breathable 3D printed knit. They also feature lightweight, non-slip rubber soles...
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 FlyEase
Post by Charlie White on Mar 18, 2019
Recently Nike released the Air Zoom Pegasus 35 FlyEase to the public, which includes a FlyEase zip closure system in the heel of the Zoom Pegasus shoe. The shoes were designed to make it easy for athletes to put them on or take them off. One of the best parts...
3D Printed Shoe Collaboration
Post by Charlie White on Mar 13, 2019
Stratasys is working with American stop-motion animation studio LAIKA, as well as Nike, to 3D print exclusive shoes. They will be a special edition of the Missing Link x Nike Air Max Susan shoe, for LAIKA’s movie ‘Missing Link.’ The original version of the shoe is a collaboration between Nike...
Ortholite And Superfeet Insoles
Post by Charlie White on Jan 21, 2019
The number of people suffering from foot pain is rising, and the health market is growing. Because of this, footwear retailers are focusing more on the insole of the shoe. The insole is not part of the style so it is often relegated to the back corners of footwear stores....
The Exobiology Collection
Post by Charlie White on Jan 17, 2019
A new 3D printed shoe collection has been revealed by Ica and Kostika. They are both appealing and unique, but they do not appear at first like they are comfortable. With the help of 3D printing, the shoes are designed to perfectly fit the shape of each individual consumer’s foot....
A Partnership For Insoles
Post by Charlie White on Jan 09, 2019
Most of you may be familiar with Dr. Scholl’s brand insoles. I personally use them almost every day because I am always on my feed for work. It is a very suggested brand if you spend a lot of time in uncomfortable shoes. However, 3D printed shoes are starting off...
ShapeCrunch 3D Insoles
Post by Charlie White on Jan 06, 2019
As someone who ran track in the past, I know comfortable running shoes can be an important thing to have. However, people can spend thousands just to get a pair that both looks good and helps prevent strain on their foot. An Indian start-up, ShapeCrunch, is trying to help with...
Rothy's 3D Knitted Shoes
Post by Charlie White on Jan 04, 2019
Everyone wants to find a pair of shoes that both look great and will last. It can also be hard to find shoes do not use too many resources unless you want to search for a thrift store. With 3D printed shoes, there can be a use of recycled materials....
GEL NIMBUS 21 Shoe
Post by Charlie White on Dec 09, 2018
ASICS recently launched their GEL-NIMBUS 21 shoe. It is a top of the range, neutral long distance running shoe. The company states that the shoe includes human-centric science and the latest technology to provide superior comfort for long distance. The shoe features FLYTEFOAM PROPEL & FLYTEFOAM LYTE technology to prove...
3D Partnership Between NAMIC And Wiivv
Post by Charlie White on Nov 13, 2018
The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) from Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding with Wiivv. Through this partnership, they will try to develop 3D printed biometric insoles. Wiivv shows us how a new business should be, by riding on market trends. This includes mass customization and building personalized and...
Nike's Elite Running Shoe
Post by Charlie White on Nov 11, 2018
Nike has prepared their 3D printed shoe, Zoom Vaporfly Elite Flyprint 3D for a wider release. The Flyprint 3D is an updated version of Nike’s famous 3D printed Zoom Vaporfly 4%. It was designed with help from Eluid Kipchoge, the winner of the Berlin marathon in 2018. This footwear company...
Voxel8's Mass Customization
Post by Charlie White on Oct 29, 2018
Major companies such as Adidas and Nike believe the footwear industry will be among the first to adopt 3D printing technology for mass production. This is true for mass customization and until now the focus has been on 3D printing the outsole and midsole. A Startup, Voxel8, is ready to...
Jabil's Additive Manufacturing
Post by Charlie White on Oct 14, 2018
Jabil has been focusing on additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for the past few years. Recently it has introduced its cloud-based Jabil Additive Manufacturing Network. Their additive manufacturing offering is broad, but they are currently focusing footwear. 3D printing has become a bigger part of the footwear industry, including everything...
Mikio Sakabe's Giddy Up Label
Post by Charlie White on Oct 09, 2018
Mikio Sakabe, a Japanese fashion designer, recently announced some 3D printed shoes. He shows interest in 3D printing and innovative, smart materials. The fashion-tech landscape has finally passed the ‘gimmick” stage. An initial desire to merge two scenes is no longer just an idea. Drawing inspiration from one of the...
3D Printing In The Fashion Industry
Post by Charlie White on Sep 30, 2018
New York Fashion Week this year featured seven days of innovation with concepts that have never been seen. The most elite members of the fashion community were in attendance, and we were shown the latest upcoming trends. A focus of the event is fast fashion, which is capturing fresh designs...
HP Orthotics And Flowbuilt
Post by Charlie White on Sep 25, 2018
HP recently announced that it will launch metal 3D printers and automated 3D printers to be used for polymers. The company is making investments in the technology and everyone wants to know what their plan is so they can try and get ahead of them. HP does $52 billion in...
3D Printing And Manufacturing
Post by Charlie White on Sep 17, 2018
3D printing is starting to have quite the effect on everyday human lives. The printers are creating shapes as well as shaping the future of our industry. 3D printing has been applied to aviation, education, footwear, and even healthcare! In the US alone, the value of the technology was 13.2...
Fleet Feet Foot Scanning
Post by Charlie White on Aug 26, 2018
Fleet Feet is launching new programs to both enhance and make their customer experience more personalized. They are calling them “Fit Engine“ and “User Profiles.” The programs work with Fleet Feet’s 3D foot scanning technology (fit id), which launched back in 2017. The technology can present measurements that help store...
Soak Working With Cobbler
Post by Charlie White on Aug 24, 2018
A footwear company, Soak, is teaming up with a startup that makes 3D printers with the purpose of manufacturing shoes. Cobbler Technologies will start printing the soles of Soak’s designs this year. The company will still make some soles the traditional way, but this method will allow modifications to be...
Mycelium High Heels
Post by Charlie White on Aug 20, 2018
Design studio Ica and Kostika has recently created 3D printed high heels, and they are very interesting to look at. The Mycelium shoe features a texture that resembles a mushroom. While the shape looks like a shark fin coming away from the wearer’s leg. The shoes are not something you...
3D Printed Ballet Shoes
Post by Charlie White on Aug 13, 2018
Ballet dancers may sometimes give the illusion that what they do is effortless, but that is very wrong. Having bruised and bloody feet is very normal for the athletes. Thanks to Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design graduate, Hadar Neeman, there might be a solution in the future for the...
Piezoelectric Sensors And 3D Printing
Post by Charlie White on Aug 06, 2018
Sensors track many parts of our lives, especially when it comes to physical activity. Sensors even watch the environment and road conditions. This information helps drones fly and even cars and trains to run independently. Currently, the sensors are separate devices from the sensed components, which causes design limitations. Imagine,...
Determination For The Perfect Shoe
Post by Charlie White on Jul 18, 2018
In an industrial park near Charlottesville’s mall, there are 3D printers producing shoes thanks to Dr. Casey Kerrigan. She built a laboratory at the University of Virginia to help her study the way that people move. By using cameras in a room she was able to pick up where the...
Plae's Sneakers For Adults
Post by Charlie White on Jul 11, 2018
The company Plae has recently moved towards adult footwear after starting out as a brand for children back in 2013. By not focusing too much on the division of gender, they recently revealed four new shoes that are available in adult sizes. The shoes were named after the streets that...
"Sandy" Running Shoes
Post by Charlie White on Jun 25, 2018
A young designer Aeris Neterwala has done some designs for Adidas sneakers, which is heavier than almost any other footwear. Aeris is a graduate of the College of art and design in Pasadena. When a shoe is printed on a 3D printer it consists of several tens of layers of...
ECCO's Quant-U Project
Post by Charlie White on Jun 20, 2018
ECCO the leader in innovative comfort footwear and leather goods has taken up customized footwear. The project, Quant-U, revolves around developing customized 3D printed midsoles. The project is currently in the pilot phase and the service is only available at ECCO’s concept store in Amsterdam. ECCO was founded by Karl...
Brooks' Mazama 2 Trail Shoe
Post by Charlie White on Jun 17, 2018
The company Brooks recently released their Mazama 2 running shoe. It is their lightest trail shoe and is made for those runners who want to take their workout off road. The shoe features a lightweight mesh upper with minimal targeted cushioning which helps keep the weight of the shoe down....
3D Printed Footwear Strides
Post by Charlie White on May 21, 2018
Sportswear brands have been looking into the possibility of 3D printing high-performance footwear. Adidas set up a partnership with California-based 3D printing company Carbon to create the Futurecraft 4D footwear. The sportswear brand says it used years of running data to design the new midsole. This was made possible with...
3D Printing Snowshoe Repair
Post by Charlie White on May 16, 2018
There has been an increase in the use of 3D printing in military operations. With 3D printing, you can rapidly print spare parts and emergency supplies that are needed, especially for U.S. Marines. A recent mountain-base training was the perfect situation to use the technology by 3D printing custom parts...
UnisBrands Giveaway!
Post by Charlie White on May 12, 2018
After reading all these posts about 3D printed shoes, some of us wish that we could own a pair someday. Well, some of you might be in luck! You could be one of the five people to win a pair of fully customized 3D printed footwear. UnisBrands is beta testing...
3D Printed Shoes Bring Marathon Win
Post by Charlie White on May 07, 2018
To follow up on a previous post about Nike’s 3D printed running shoes. Eliud Kipchoge won the 2018 London Marathon wearing the Nike VaporFly Elite Flyprint trainers, which has the world’s first 3D printed upper. With only using a 3D printer and a thermoplastic polyurethane filament Nike is able to...
