An important advantage of 3D printing is the possibility of producing small series and individual pieces at an economically justifiable expense. This results in completely new possibilities for a large number of industries. Last but not least, this also includes the possibility of making custom-fit shoes on the 3D printer.
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From handwork to 3D printing
Up until the industrial revolution, shoes were made by hand for thousands of years. This type of production was very time-consuming and required proven craftsmanship, which was usually institutionalized through training as a shoemaker.
From the 1850s, the method of making shoes changed radically. The introduction of the shoe sewing machine by Lyman Blake (1835 – 1883) and the lasting machine by Jan Matzeliger (1852 – 1887) paved the way for the industrial mass production of shoes, which we still know today as the general standard worldwide.
The advent of 3D printing technologies from the 1980s onwards means that shoe manufacture has the opportunity to further develop all the advantages of industrial production, but at the same time to revive a lost advantage of manual shoe manufacture: the individualized production of perfectly fitting shoes, and this at an economical price reasonable effort.
Running and hiking shoes of the new generation
3D printing technology has proven to be particularly valuable for the production of running and hiking shoes. It is precisely here that special requirements such as optimal foot control, stability or durability must be observed. In addition to customization, the expansion of the range of materials proves to be another strength of 3D printing.
For professional runners, individualized shoes have long been standard, in which the runner’s feet are measured using a 3D scan. Based on this data, the running shoe that fits the respective athlete is created on the 3D printer.
From professional sport to the mass market: 2 use cases
In particular, large shoe manufacturers such as Adidas are currently working intensively on making these innovations accessible to the general public.
Adidas provides an example of this as part of its so-called “Futurecraft series”. The customer is supposed to jog on a treadmill in an Adidas store, with his feet being measured using a 3D scan. Based on this data, the 3D printer should produce an individualized running shoe for the respective customer so quickly that they can take the shoe home with them on the same occasion.
The New York 3D designer Francis Bitonti, in collaboration with Tennessee-based company Feetz, is also taking a different approach. Here the customer photographs his feet himself (3 photos are necessary) and uploads these pictures via an app. With the help of this app, printable 3D files are now created, on the basis of which the customer receives his individualized shoes from the 3D printer.
Read more about 3D printed shoes and fashion on our 3D Activation blog.
