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3D printing may be the future of footwear manufacturing
August 31st, 2023
Elastium, a startup based in the United Arab Emirates, and the Munich, Germany-based startup Sneakprint, have harnessed 3D printing technology to manufacture shoes. Elastium-1 sneaker. Photo: Elastium Elastium has developed sneakers using fused granulate fabrication 3D printing technology, a method of 3D printing that uses raw materials in granule, or pellet, form rather than filament […]
Sustainable shoes to be made from ‘Plant Leather’
May 1st, 2021
Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds Inc. has invested $2 million in the startup Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) with plans to use its plant-based leather in Allbirds shoe. Ecotextile News reports that NFW has created a special version of its Mirum leather alternative called Plant Leather, which has been fine-tuned for the footwear company. Plant Leather is […]
From waste to waterproof shoe
April 1st, 2019
Each year, 23 billion pairs of shoes made from raw materials are tossed in the trash, where they end up incinerated or are left to decompose in landfills. Sympatex Technologies, the high-tech company that produces and distributes membranes, laminates and functional textiles, has a better model for the lifecycle of shoes than creating tons of […]
Pressed Shoes inspired by auto upholstery
March 1st, 2019
Are there similarities between manufacturing upholstery for automobiles and making a pair of shoes? Artist Joris de Groot thinks so. The Amsterdam-based product designer is interested in the tension between craftsmanship and industry. De Groot looked to the techniques involved in manufacturing car interiors to create his In4nite II 2000N Pressed Shoe collection. He chose […]
Sneakers for Mars
August 1st, 2017
Maybe someday, along with cruise wear, there will be a special fashion category: space wear. It could be sooner than later, given that SpaceX, the space exploration company started by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, recently announced plans to fly two tourists around the moon in 2018. Shoes for space travel have already gotten off on […]