Heron Preston Debuts First Fully 3D-Printed Shoe—1 Piece With No Glue, Stitching
Images via Zellerfeld / Heron Preston
The upper, soles, and tongue of Heron Preston’s innovative new sneaker are all one and the same. The footwear is fully 3D-printed, a first for the streetwear label, and its seamless design with no stitching, glue, or adhering of parts makes it fully recyclable too.
To produce the HERON01, the brand partnered up with Zellerfeld, which provided the expertise as a company specializing in the 3D-printing of whole shoes “with the push of a button.”
As laces would mean more materials, the sneaker is slip-on. A low-ankle design ensures the wearer can put it on and remove it with ease.
True to the brand name, the footwear is embedded with scales and textures of the heron’s foot. HYPEBEAST details that the sole also draws inspiration from the bird claw.
Zellerfeld elaborates on the benefits of 3D printing on its website, noting that automation could put an end to sweatshops and labor exploitation, while removing toxic chemicals and adhesives from the production process.
The number in sneaker’s name hints that 3D printing isn’t a one-off for Heron Preston. “The HERON01 is just the beginning,” the eponymous brand’s founder teases. “With additive manufacturing, the potential is unlimited. I was able to design and print functional and evolving prototypes in hours—with traditional manufacturing, this would have taken months. I can’t wait to print more shoes and updates.”
The shoe will first be launched through a ‘Campaign for a Cause’ raffle on StockX, with proceeds going to anti-child labor charity Global March, giving buyers a chance to gain early privileges with a US$10 donation. It will then be available in a limited count on Zellerfeld on October 5.
[via HYPEBEAST, images via Zellerfeld / Heron Preston]
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