3D Shoes 3D Shoes
  • News
    NewsShow More
    Artistic 3D-printed rose-shaped edible gel on a matte black plate.
    3D-Printed Edible Gels for Dysphagia
    July 11, 2025
    Solebox Berlin store with Zellerfeld 3D‑printer setup under plexiglass.
    Printing the Future: Solebox and Zellerfeld Redefine What Sneakers Can Be
    July 8, 2025
    Installation view of IRIS VAN HERPEN’s “Sculpting the Senses” at ArtScienceMuseum, Singapore, 2025. Courtesy of Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
    Iris van Herpen’s “Sculpting the Senses” Exhibition Guide
    July 6, 2025
    HUGO x Zellerfeld 3D‑printed loafer suspended against a dark gradient background
    HUGO x Zellerfeld 3D-Printed Loafers: The Drop That’s Rewriting the Rules of Footwear
    July 3, 2025
    Digital render of Syntilay’s AI-designed space sneaker glowing in holographic display
    Cosmic Kicks: Why Reebok’s Joe Foster Is Betting on the First Shoe Designed in Space
    June 28, 2025
  • Design
    DesignShow More
    adidas Is Dropping A Laced Version Of The Climacool
    Adidas Climacool Laced 2025 Release: What You Need to Know Before Buying
    June 20, 2025
    Side profile of the red 3-D-printed Nike Air Max 1000 prototype
    Nike Air Max 1000 vs Adidas 4DFWD 3: Can Either 3‑D‑Printed Sneaker Survive 500+ Miles?
    June 16, 2025
    A pigmented O° shoe featuring a black 3D-printed structure overlaying a grey textile base layer Image: Courtesy of OXMAN
    OXMAN’s O° Platform: Pioneering 100% Biodegradable 3D-Printed Footwear
    January 29, 2025
    The First AI Shoe
    Stepping into the Future: Reebok’s Co-Founder Teams Up with Young Innovator to Revolutionize Footwear through AI and 3D Printing
    January 23, 2025
    CamperLab’s Tossu Shoe Gets an Update From Mr. Bailey’s Concept (K)
    CamperLab x Mr. Bailey’s Tossu Shoe – A Design Revolution
    December 17, 2024
  • Trends
    TrendsShow More
    Woman holding phone showing herself in a Doppl-style outfit preview
    Google Doppl: Will AI Try-Ons Really Change 3D Fashion—or Just Tease What’s Next?
    June 30, 2025
    High-resolution collage featuring five popular running shoes — Nike Invincible 4, HOKA Bondi 9, ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27, New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v4, and Adidas 4DFWD — recommended for an EPU 45 midsole upgrade.
    5 Running Shoes That Need Carbon’s EPU 45 Foam (But Probably Won’t Get It Yet)
    June 10, 2025
    Sean Wotherspoon's Sean Double U
    One Pair, One Purpose: The Philosophy Behind Sean Wotherspoon’s Dual Silhouettes
    June 9, 2025
    Digital collage of 10 recycled sneakers from top brands in 2025, showcasing eco-friendly materials like ocean plastic, algae foam, and knit uppers
    10 Shoe Brands Turning Trash into Trend: The Rise of Recycled Footwear in 2025
    June 4, 2025
    Close-up of Adidas 4D-printed midsole showing breathable lattice structure
    Are 3D-Printed Shoes Worth It in 2025? What Sneaker Brands Don’t Want You to Know
    June 2, 2025
  • Recommended Picks
    Recommended PicksShow More
    High-resolution collage featuring five popular running shoes — Nike Invincible 4, HOKA Bondi 9, ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27, New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v4, and Adidas 4DFWD — recommended for an EPU 45 midsole upgrade.
    5 Running Shoes That Need Carbon’s EPU 45 Foam (But Probably Won’t Get It Yet)
    June 10, 2025
    Anycubic Wash & Cure 3
    Budget vs. Premium: Which Wash & Cure Station Is Right for You in 2025?
    June 5, 2025
    CAD for kids course review covers a 16-week program taking learners from CAD sketch to 3D-printed model, summarizing projects, skills and required tools.
    CAD for Kids – Build, Create & Learn — Our Full Project-Based Review
    May 8, 2025
    Best Subscription Boxes for Moms This Mother’s Day (2025 Gift Guide)
    🎀 Best Subscription Boxes for Moms This Mother’s Day (2025 Gift Guide)
    April 29, 2025
    3D Printing from Zero to Hero in Blender – FDM & MSLA - Course Review
    3D Printing from Zero to Hero in Blender – FDM & MSLA: Build, Create & Learn — Our Full Project-Based Review
    April 12, 2025
Reading: ROOTS: Biodegradable 3D-Printed Designer Footwear
Fuel Our Steps
Font ResizerAa
3DSHOES.COM3DSHOES.COM
  • News
  • Design
  • Recommended Picks
  • STL Files
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Design
  • Recommended Picks
Akane Wakai, Ph.D. ’24, and Jennifer Bustillos, Ph.D. ’24, prepare a sample at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source.

Advances in Controlling Metal Microstructure in Additive Manufacturing

R_Shoes R_Shoes February 16, 2025
5.9kLike
4kFollow
3.7kPin
3.7kFollow
  • Home
  • About
  • STL Files
  • Contact
© 2024 3DSHOES.com. All Rights Reserved.
3DSHOES.COM > News > News > ROOTS: Biodegradable 3D-Printed Designer Footwear
News

ROOTS: Biodegradable 3D-Printed Designer Footwear

R_Shoes
Last updated: June 27, 2024 1:31 am
By R_Shoes 6 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Material science company Balena & Designer Kitty Shukman Harness 3D-Printing, Uniquely Compostable Materials & Nature to Create Eco-chic Designer Slides

TEL AVIV, Israel and LONDON, July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Balena, the material science company aimed at making advanced biodegradable polymer materials for a more sustainable fashion industry, today announced an exciting partnership with acclaimed designer Kitty Shukman to create a unique 3D-printed concept slide with a natural kick: ROOTS.

BioCir 3d Printed Roots Slide
BioCir 3d Printed Roots Slide

 

To create her unique, 3D-printed slides, Shukman utilized Balena’s BioCir™, the first fully compostable and biodegradable elastomer for the fashion industry. The collaboration is a milestone in the intersection of fashion, technology, and environmental consciousness, helping usher in a new era of sustainable design. Kitty’s artistic vision for the slide combined with Balena’s expertise in bio-plastic materials has resulted in a truly remarkable designer item – as striking as it is circular.

 

Driven by the concept of ‘roots’, Kitty aimed to seamlessly integrate the branches and stems of the upper section of her slides into the outsole, mimicking the organic wrapping of roots beneath the foot. She intentionally designed the left and right shoes to have distinct characteristics, enhancing the playful notion of roots growing organically over the feet. The 3D-printed slides serve as an invitation to take a deep breath and find solace in the roots that ground us.

Through this unique footwear concept, Balena is determined to push the boundaries of 3D-printing to advance the adoption of compostable, biodegradable and simultaneously durable materials in the fashion industry. 3D-printing has the potential to revolutionize the materials landscape for fashion – one of the world’s most polluting industries. Innovative designers like Kitty have begun to realize the promise of this burgeoning technology as well as the clear ‘End-of-Life’ enabled through the pioneering of next-gen materials like BioCir™ in order to create new designs which are beautiful, fashionable, and circular from end-to-end.

Balena’s state-of-the-art in-house lab translated Kitty’s design into a tangible reality, showcasing the immense potential of its BioCir™ material in 3D-printing – as previously demonstrated in other major manufacturing processes like injection molding and extrusion – to help generate sustainable footwear.

“Partnering with Kitty to create a truly remarkable and circular product has underlined the magic that happens when you put the right material in the hands of the right designer,” said David Roubach, Founder and CEO of Balena. “Our combined creative vision has taken the dream of sustainable, scalable 3D-printing another step forward, and we hope to see leading fashion brands take a step in the same direction in the near future.”

The BioCir manufacturing process is highly scalable, allowing for collaborations and seamless integration across diverse industries and all available manufacturing methods. Crucially, products crafted with BioCir undergo a responsible end-of-life cycle through a biological recycling mechanism. This entails complete decomposition and biodegradation in an industrial compost facility, safely returning it to the earth – a circular process essential for a sustainable future.

“I continually strive to strike a balance between functionality, sustainability, and style, and working with the Balena team to envision this new design has helped me imagine a day when our fashion industry becomes truly circular,” said designer Kitty Shukman. “I hope to see 3D-printing continue to leave its mark as a unique, bold, and sustainable medium in the fashion industry on its way to becoming climate neutral.”

About Balena

Balena is a material science company on a mission to create a circular future with its propriety fully biodegradable thermoplastic material and cutting-edge circular model to solve the ‘end-of-life’ problem for brands. Setting the standard for compostable and biodegradable plastics, Balena has created the first durable, flexible, and comfortable alternative to plastics in fashion. Founded in 2020 with offices in Tel Aviv and Milan, Balena is dedicated to setting the bar for future development of biodegradable plastics. For more information, please visit: www.balena.science.

Kitty Shukman

Kitty Shukman is an emerging force in the world of footwear design, captivating and enthusiastic with her innovative approach and artistic direction. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, she has quickly made a name for herself as a rising star in the industry.

Drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, including art, architecture, and culture, Kitty infuses her designs with a distinct blend of creativity and functionality. Her bold aesthetic challenges traditional notions of footwear, pushing boundaries and redefining the possibilities of design. Each pair of shoes she crafts is meticulously engineered, combining cutting-edge technology with traditional techniques, ensuring a harmonious fusion of style and wearability.

Beyond her design work, Kitty is known for her dedication to sustainability and ethical practices. She strives to minimize the environmental impact of her creations by utilizing responsibly sourced materials and implementing eco-conscious production methods. Her commitment to social responsibility extends to fostering collaborations with artisans and craftsmen from diverse backgrounds, supporting local communities, and preserving traditional craftsmanship.

Balena Media Contact:  

Tamara Raynor-Cote
tamara@headline.media 
IL:  +972 58 676 6793
US: +1 914 336 4557
UK: +44 203 769 3469

Photo: <a href="https://3dshoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Balena.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"https://3dshoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Balena.jpg

SOURCE Balena

 

SOURCE: https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/introducing-roots-biodegradable-3d-printed-designer-footwear-301883794.html

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link

Stay Up To Date!

Sign up for 3DShoes.com's mailing list where you will stay up-to-date with latest trends, drops, and more.

loader

PixelCrafted banner ad bold headline ‘Websites That Sell’, tagline ‘Custom WordPress builds that convert’, button ‘Get a Free Mockup’.

Trending

spnKiX – Wearable Mobility

For most of my life I have been interested in personal mobility and I have…

February 8, 2022

Under Armour Launches Custom Footwear Platform

  The revolution of 3D shoes largely revolves around the customization capabilities the new technology…

June 22, 2017

Paris Fashion Week – Olivia Culpo Wears 3D-Printed Rose Petal Valentino Boots

Olivia Culpo was seen wearing a chic black-and-white ensemble at the Valentino Spring/Summer 2022 fashion…

October 5, 2021
5.9kLike
4kFollow
3.7kPin
3.7kFollow
News

Low-Temperature 3D-Printed Glass: MIT’s Inorganic-Composite Ink Revolution

Array of low-temperature 3D-printed glass test shapes created at MIT Lincoln Laboratory

For centuries, shaping real glass has meant working in a furnace hot enough to soften sand—well above 1,000 °C. That energy barrier has fenced additive manufacturing (AM) out of one of…

R_Shoes June 23, 2025

Your may also like!

Artistic 3D-printed rose-shaped edible gel on a matte black plate.
News

3D-Printed Edible Gels for Dysphagia

R_Shoes July 11, 2025
Solebox Berlin store with Zellerfeld 3D‑printer setup under plexiglass.
News

Printing the Future: Solebox and Zellerfeld Redefine What Sneakers Can Be

R_Shoes July 8, 2025
Installation view of IRIS VAN HERPEN’s “Sculpting the Senses” at ArtScienceMuseum, Singapore, 2025. Courtesy of Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
News

Iris van Herpen’s “Sculpting the Senses” Exhibition Guide

R_Shoes July 6, 2025
HUGO x Zellerfeld 3D‑printed loafer suspended against a dark gradient background
News

HUGO x Zellerfeld 3D-Printed Loafers: The Drop That’s Rewriting the Rules of Footwear

R_Shoes July 3, 2025
loader

Our website stores cookies on your computer. They allow us to remember you and help personalize your experience with our site.

Read our privacy policy for more information.

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About
  • STL Files
  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy (EU)
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Socials

Follow US
Crafted with love by PixelCrafted.Dev ❤
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Stay Up To Date!

Sign up for 3DShoes.com's mailing list where you will stay up-to-date with latest trends, drops, and more.

loader

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?