Category Archives: 3D Printing

3D Printing, footwear, ingenuity, Popdiatribe, Shoes, technology, walking

Shoetooth Guidance and Heels For Yori

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Did you know that the Oakland A’s are the only major league baseball team that wears white shoes all of the time?

Did you know the Red Wing shoe company launched its own print paper- the Red Wing Post– in Europe last month?

instagram.com/redwingheritage
instagram.com/redwingheritage

Ducere Technologies’ Lechal brand “smart” shoes were all in the news cycle this week, but did you know you can get some Lechal Bluetooth-enabled insoles that can make almost any pair smarter?

www.lechal.com
www.lechal.com

Do you know why someone would want Bluetooth-enabled footwear? Haptic technology can create a vibrating effect on the left or right sole to guide you on walks and rides, eliminating the need to glance at anything (Hells Angels hate looking at smartphones). This makes the Lechals a potential breakthrough for the blind community. Along with counting steps and calories, you can also share fitness goals with other Lehcal users using the connected app (Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile). Check out Lecahl.com .

Hey Ladies! Would you try on this platform heel that was created using a 3D printer?

www.continuumfashion.com
www.continuumfashion.com

Part art sculpture, part shoe- this kick is generated by a company called Continuum– ran by Mary Huang from Brooklyn, New York.

The above Continuum "Daphne" shoe being printed
The above Continuum “Daphne” shoe being printed

Huang’s Continuum was an early adopter of software-based fashion items. Her pieces have been shown in museums, and this footwear- inspired by trees, the Apollo statue, and Tron*- are sure to show up in upcoming fashion photoshoots. They also print dresses and bikinis. Check out ContinuumFashion.com . 

* Yori was Tron’s female sidekick in the first movie.

Have you heard about Paul Evans shoes? A couple fellas from NYC are sorta doing for shoe-shopping what Harry’s razors are doing for shaving.  They believe they’ve created an affordable product for guys that can match the quality of popular brands we’d normally buy. Think hundreds, not thousands.

Paul Evans Cognac Chukkas
Paul Evans Cognac Chukkas

They scouted a factory in Italy to create their designs, and launched a website to sell them direct to consumer. The shoes are very conservative business-guy style, but it might be time you got your suit together and entered the business world proper, bro. With belts and bags to match, you might attain that extra edge to close that deal, increase your EBITDA, or at least get her number. Check PaulEvansNY.com .

Speaking of the Oakland A’s… I mean… the Boston Red Sox- it’s Baseball time- C-ya

3D Printing, customize, footwear, ingenuity, manufacturing, Shoes, technology

Walk To The Nearest

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A couple of imaginative designers have come up with a system that’ll create a pair of kicks faster than an orthodontist can mold a dental retainer.

Don'tRun-BetaLaserCutting

The system is called Don’t Run, and is the beta design project of Eugenia Morpurgo and Juan Montero from Europe. A laser cutting machine and some 3D printing guided by computer numerical control lets a creative person participate in making their own shoes like never before.

LaserCutUpperBySophiaGuggenbeger.A single cut piece of leather is folded over over a sandwich of custom cut sole materials connected by small pegs that resemble board game pieces.

Don'tRunConstruction

The whole enchilada is then secured by a shoelace, which also serves as stitching for key points on the upper. No glueing or machine sewing is involved.

Example of some finished Don't Runs
Example of some finished Don’t Runs

The mobile “factory” resembles more of a print shop, with leather instead of paper, ethylene vinyl acetate instead of cardboard, and spools of lace instead of staples.

http://www.dontrun-beta.com/
http://www.dontrun-beta.com/

The system has been travelling around in the mode of an art exhibit, with accomplished designers taking a swing with their own blueprints.  It’s certainly the beginning of an interesting experiment. I can’t picture your jogging sneakers of hiking boots being replaced by what is more of a beefed up slipper, but the Don’t Run model shows what is possible using fresh technology. Along with showcasing a streamlined model of production (therefore consumption), it may make going to brick and mortar shoe shops exciting  to a new-school consumer who would just assume click “buy” on a Zappos app.

All images from this post were grabbed from DontRun-Beta.com

3D Printing, footwear, Shoes, technology

Popdiatribe: Step Into The Future

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Tweet from Feetz Custom Fit Footwear
Tweet from Feetz Custom Fit Footwear

The above tweet was clipped from the account of Feetz, a company that employs 3D printing technology to perfect custom fitting footwear for folks with orthopedic problems such as different sized or abnormally shaped feet.  Using a proprietary “SizeMe” imaging process, Feetz asks customers to send pictures of each foot so their tech team can create proper fitting shoes you can slide on within seven days. Check out their site for more information, and a chance to be a beta tester.

Science fiction is indeed becoming reality. Footwear giant Nike, who used some 3D tech in the design of their Superbowl cleats (and at the time of this post, is looking to employ 3D modeling specialists), made news this month via a hint from designer Tinker Hatfield about a self-lacing system that resembles what Marty McFly sported in Back to the Future 2.

Video game company Konami co-branded with Puma to release some Metal Gear Solid high-tops. Eastman Footwear recalled 12,000+ pairs of Coleman branded children’s shoes due to a laceration hazard from poorly designed metal shoestring rivets. Writer Taryn Luna penned a great rundown of the latest batch of maximalist running sneaks. I purchased my first can of Obenauf’s Leather Preservative for boots to combat the snow, slush, and salt of New York and Boston this month; so far so good!