The 3D-printing company Zellerfeld and the eponymous streetwear brand Heron Preston have introduced what they call the first fully 3D-printed shoe on the retail market. The Heron01 is now available on StockX in three colorways. Made of a single material, the sneaker dispenses with seams, stitching, glues and traditional factories. It is also entirely recyclable, and therefore amenable to closed-loop manufacture – where, at least in principle, new shoes are generated from old shoes ad infinitum, with no added material. Presumably, then, recourse to a supply chain would only serve to procure enough new material. The shoes can be printed in standard sizes or, with a smartphone foot scan, made to measure. Customers can reprint newer versions of Heron01 sneakers they already own. According to Preston himself, the 3D printing has reduced the time of prototype design and production from months to hours. Zellerfeld was founded by engineering students in 2015 and is headquartered in Brooklyn. Customers who purchase a pair of Heron01s and make a donation of $10 to StockX’s “Campaign for a Cause” are entered into a raffle to join Zellerfeld’s Beta Program and receive one free sneaker update.
