3D printed shoes

The Smithsonian's Design Decoded blog reports on the latest developments in 3D printed footwear, including the fashion designers and students who are experimenting with printing out shoes using cheap materials that only last for "one lap down a runway." As Andrew writes on the Makerbot blog, "the artist worked with what was available to push the limits of the design, and the design will drive the demand for the needed materials. This is truly a case where life will catch up to imitate the art." Sarah C. Rich expands:

As materials science advances, injection molding may give way to 3D printing—a strategy that’s widely used in design studios for pushing formal boundaries, but as yet not ubiquitous on the footwear market. Most polymers used in 3D printers are too hard and inflexible to make a comfortable shoe, although fashion students and designers have not been deterred from producing them, if only for one lap down a runway. The existing concepts invariably look rather sci-fi, with web-like lines that wrap the foot.
Swedish designer Naim Josefi envisions a consumer environment in which a shopper’s foot would be scanned in-store, and a shoe printed on demand that perfectly fit the wearer’s anatomy. Brazilian designer Andreia Chaves’s Invisible Shoe pairs a common leather pump with a 3D-printed cage-like bootie, while Dutch fashion designer Pauline van Dongen’s Morphogenesis shoe more closely resembles a platform wedge. And at the London College of Fashion, student Hoon Chung created a line of 3D printed shoes for a final project, which look perhaps the closest to contemporary styles, though the molded shapes betray a high-tech production method.

These Shoes are Made for Printing (via Makerbot blog)

(Image: Andreia Chaves’s Invisible Shoe)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: 3d printing • brazil • Environment • fashion • shoes

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http://twitter.com/DanHibiki1 Dan Hibiki

Are the shoes in the 3d printed shoes 3d printed?

Quick, someone make an Xzibit ’yo Dog’ poster.
mtdna

Perfect for Tron-themed beauty pageants!
goldenearth

This design has a lot of sole, oops I mean SOUL
- http://www.facebook.com/postelwait Cameron Postelwait
  
  probably no Seoul though.
http://twitter.com/ducchau99 duc chau

These shoes remind me of the Dire Straits Money For Nothing video. Rudimentary and hamstrung by the technology. But man… think how far CGI has come since then. In light of that, it’s hard not to be optimistic for 3D printing technology.
http://gregsedwards.wordpress.com Greg Edwards

Just when you thought there wasn’t enough useless crap in the world.
sugarsails

Love these, it’s always exciting when a new industry picks up 3d printing as a tool/medium!
E T

Is there a version for men?
sockdoll

It looks like scaffolding for tiny cobblers.
http://rhinocrisy.org/ saurabh

Okay, so you DID all read where it says they only last for “one lap around the runway”, right? Which means: wear these shoes and you will PROBABLY collapse and break your ankle.
habbi1974

they look fragile. the low poly look is cool but I looks like it can’t stand a few steps…
KapCarl

Here’s a pair he missed from Dutch designer Marloes ten Bhromer, 3d printed on an Objet Connex multi-material 3D printer. They have a very different look (no scaffolding). http://blog.objet.com/2011/09/06/3d-printed-shoes-now-on-display-at-victoria-albert-museum/
http://twitter.com/3DTVcom 3DTV.com

OK 3D looks better in some things than others. Just gonna say it, shoes maybe shouldn’t be made into 3D. Now videos, movies, pictures; those look good in 3D. If you guys want to see some awesome videos/pictures in 3D just head to 3dtv.com and see all you want!