American designer and artist Heron Preston launched a fully 3D printed sneaker in collaboration with technology company, Zellerfeld. The sneaker, Heron01, made without the involvement of factories and complicated supply chains, is all set to begin a new tone for the sneaker era.
“The Heron01 is just the beginning - with additive manufacturing, the potential is unlimited. I was able to design and print functional and evolving prototypes in hours - with traditional manufacturing, this would have taken months. I can’t wait to print more shoes and updates,” said Heron Preston in a statement.
The sneaker, which features printed scales and its texture is inspired by the heron bird and sport sole elements that fuse the impression of a bird claw. The fact that the shoe has been made without seams, stitching, glue, or other weak points makes it fully recyclable and eliminates the wastage involved in conventional shoe production processes. The shoe, available in three different colours, can be recycled into new materials for shoes.
Besides its sustainability, the Heron01 will also be known for its impeccable fit. Each pair of sneakers can be printed in standard shoe sizes along with custom foot sizes. Customers can get a custom size in the shoe using an iPhone for a foot scan.
The beta launch of the Heron01 sneaker will also be available exclusively on StockX, an online marketplace as a part of its ‘Campaign for a Cause’, which benefits child labour prevention charity, Global March.
Image Source: Forbes.com