Breaking the 3D Mould

The project is called Breaking the 3-D mould, which combines 3-D printing technology with a high level of craftsmanship using traditional shoe making techniques. My inspiration to create a partly 3-D printed shoe came from a desire to look at ways to change and challenge the process of footwear manufacture. It was clear that 3-D printing could not only achieve this, but would also allow a large amount of flexibility in the design stage.
This allowed me as a footwear designer to push the limits of design structures.
The design inspirations for this collection came from natural structures, such as shell, fossil and bone, which are used to support or protect animals. Bone is a crucial part of a creature’s body, supporting their weight in a similar way to a shoe supporting the weight of the wearer. Another inspiration were organic shapes and natural textures.