3D Printing

A Modern Myth: the Continuum of Prêt-à-Porter 3D Printed Shoes

At 3DPI we spend a lot of time asking ourselves which is going to be the one true killer app for consumer 3D printing. World Cup paraphernalia? Modular smartphones? Toys? For most women the point is moot: it’s shoes. As soon as they will be able to pull off the print plate a prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) perfectly wearable shoe they will go out and buy a 3D printer. Period. And Continuum, a New York based start-up, wants to make sure that happens sooner rather than later.

Daphne Leaves 3d printing

The company was founded and is operated by designer/technologist Mary Huang in Brooklyn, NY, and its name refers to the continuity of an idea from inspiration to design and manufacturing, the “myth” of the complete productive cycle made possible by 3D printing technologies. Huang’s first ready-to-wear 3D printed shoes collection is made up of two main designs and some variations of the same theme (such as the $395 Daphne Shoe). Each one is and can almost entirely be made on a desktop 3D printer. Hand finishing is purposely kept to a minimum so that the designs “manifest directly from digital to physical”.

“There is definitely a feeling of magic – the designer writes on her website – when pulling a complete shoe from a glowing box”.

Continuum Shoe 3D printing Timelapse from Continuum Fashion on Vimeo.

The Myth collection takes its name from every model being inspired by ancient as well as by modern mythology. The first design available, the $250 Laurel Tree, is inspired by Bernini’s statue of Apollo and Daphne, an ancient greek story about a nymph that turns into a laurel tree. Another “polygonal” design is inspired by Tron and low-polygon computer graphics. More designs will be released gradually: after a pre-order period, new designs will be released every month or so, with flats and boots coming down the line.

3d printing strvct wedge wood shoe

Along with the goal of being one day able to sell the designs digitally, directly to her customers for them to 3D print them at home, Huang is also experimenting with different materials. The urethane soles are also 3D printed in an effort to further enhance zero-waste sustainable manufacturing; the structure inside the shoes is also mostly hollow, requiring less materials and making the shoes lighter (ideal for platform heels). Using Laywoo-D3 or other exotic filaments such as carbon fiber also contribute to make 3D printed shoes more original than the traditionally manufactured ones.

We are sold, but since it all takes place in NYC, it will be interesting to see what Sarah Jessica Parker has to say about it.