The Rise of 3-D Printed Shoes
Fashion has been utilizing technology in every aspect. It is coming out with new innovative techniques to create new things. Within the last couple of years, fashion brands have been using 3-D printing to create new garments and accessories. These creations have been placed on runway shows and editorials. It has been the latest growing initiative in the industry. With this new growth and more use, 3-D fashion is bound to expand and grow within the industry.
BOTTER 3-D Printed Shoe Collaboration with Reebok, HP and the New Guards Group for their 2023 Fall/Winter Fashion Show Photo: Rebook via: Yahoo!
There are many benefits to putting in place more 3-D printing methods within the industry. A lot of 3-D designs are made to order when printed and designers often print as much as they need. Designers are able to be more innovative with their designs and do not experience the same limitations as other designers. 3-D printing is more sustainable than other garment making practices because it produces less waste. 3-D printing can also be used to create prototypes for garments or accessories within the fashion industry before they are officially made so designers can get a sense of what they will look like. Many brands such as Louis Vuitton use this method in order to make sure their garments and accessories look up to par.
The 3-D Printed Dior Derby Shoe Design Photo: Andrea Cenetiempo via: Highsnobiety
The biggest area seen in fashion that uses this method is accessories, especially shoes. Many brands have been using various 3-D printing methods to create accents, purses or shoes. For instance, the sportswear brand Adidas has designed a line of 3-D printed customized shoes called 4DFWD that has a 3-D printed midsole that allows runners to have more ground traction when they run. These accessories can be printed in a couple of minutes to an hour and have been a great way for brands to experiment with 3-D printing without making a full garment. Recently, many luxury brands such as Dior and BOTTER have been releasing 3-D printed shoes in runway shows and in editorials.
Adidas 4DFWD Shoes Photo: Adidas via: Adidas News
Cornelius Schmitt, the founder of 3-D printed shoe brand Zellerfeld said to Complex, “I believe if experimentation is free and it’s not about the marketing departments planning 12 months ahead what consumers want, I believe through free experimentation much cooler shoes might emerge. Shoes that no marketing department would bet on. We are running an experiment here,” he said. I’m pretty confident actually that in like, a few years’ time people will win the Olympics in our shoes. Because they will be customized to them…The whole society, almost, switched to sneakers because they are more comfortable, let’s be honest. I believe the same will happen now with custom shoes.”
Zellerfeld 3-D Printed Shoes Photo: Zellerfeld via: Complex
3-D printing has not become mainstream in the industry yet partly because it is a more expensive and time intensive method, especially for longer garments. However, as 3-D printing gets used more, it can advance and will expand in its capabilities. This may become a regular practice for designers to use within the industry and 3-D printed fashion in both garments and accessories has been predicted to rise within the next decades.
