With 3D-printed footwear all over the catwalks at Paris Fashion Week, we look at five of the most interesting from couture house Dior's smart derby shoe to Danish fashion brand Rains' chunky slip-on platform.
At the latest Paris Fashion Week, boots with 3D-printed soles and whole trainers made by 3D printers signalled that the technology is having a moment in footwear.
Although 3D-printed shoes have been around for almost a decade, major fashion brands ? in particular couture houses ? have rarely made use of the technology in their designs.
Sportswear brands have led the charge
Notable exceptions include Dutch designer Iris van Herpen, who worked with designer Rem D Koolhaas to showcase 3D-printed shoes on the couture catwalk in 2013.
Meanwhile, sportswear companies have embraced the precision and customisation possibilities afforded by the technology and a wide array of trainers already exist that integrate 3D-printed elements. Sportswear giant Nike used 3D-printing to create football boot studs in 2013 while rival Adidas launched a 3D-printed offering back in 2016. Shortly after, American company Under Armour joined the list of sportswear companies incorporating 3D printing into shoes with the release of its lattice-soled trainers.
Namesake's shoes have 3D-printed soles
However, as the technology has improved, more brands ? including high fashion companies ? have woken up to the benefits of using 3D printing in their footwear manufacturing.
"The benefits are the sp...