Today, many sectors are benefiting from technological advances. The footwear industry is no exception, and entrepreneurs are innovating every day. Reducing waste, customizing customization, and smart shoes are just some of the latest innovations in the footwear industry.
Connected shoes
Smart shoes are increasingly arriving on the market. It’s a technology that’s beginning to be well-understood, and above all, its applications are increasingly broad. While smart shoes that can change color based on the consumer’s preferences have already arrived, some startups now want to make smart shoes beneficial for health. This is the case of Blue Griot, which has designed shoes that would detect a fall, geolocate the person, and alert emergency services if necessary. These smart shoes for men and women could be beneficial for the elderly, for example.
Custom-made luxury shoes
High-end footwear also benefits from these technological advances, made possible thanks to digital technologies in particular. The Chamberlan brand is proof of this. This shoe brand is launching its second collection. The brand’s commitment is to use quality materials to design high-end, timeless, and trendy women’s shoes. But the added value is that these shoes are custom-made. Thanks to the Chamberlan application, the consumer can, from home, choose the model she wants and personalize it: color, material, heel height, etc. Then, thanks to a system of photos that are sent to the workshops, the teams can know the customer’s exact measurements and thus design lasts, as tradition dictates. It is possible to blend tradition and modernity for a stunning result.
3D printed shoes
3D printers are arriving in force and revolutionizing many fields. This is also the case in the world of footwear. Designer Annie Foo has embraced this revolution and now designs models using virtual reality, which she then prints using a 3D printer. This allows her to give free rein to her imagination and create much freer and more innovative shapes. Current materials already allow for the creation of interesting soles, but advances in research could lead to the creation of much more flexible materials. Furthermore, 3D printing helps limit waste production during the manufacturing process.
