3D PRINTED SHOES FOR LONDON FASHION WEEK

3D Printed shoes took to the catwalk at this year’s London Fashion Week!

Models at the annual celebration of clothes were wearing the world famous ‘Honey Wedge’ shoes by the fashion house Julian Hakes – created by a 3D printer.

The process involves making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file, typically by laying down successive thin layers of a material.

The low wedge shoes featured as part of a presentation at the event, which took place in September, by leading British designer Georgia Hardinge.

Julian Hakes turned to Ogle after facing the prospect of creating a unique design for the event in a short timeframe and our 3D printing machines provided the solution.

Julian from Julian Hakes, based in London, said: “Most foot wear designers sample and prototype in European size 37 but for London Fashion week collections we often use a size 40. This meant we needed specialist equipment to create 12 pairs of the shoes in such a quick timeframe, so we turned to Ogle. Having worked with them before, we knew their 3D printing machines could provide the solution.

We sent the file over on a Friday and by Monday we had received 12 pairs of beautiful 3D printed outsoles ready for assembly to the hand made leather uppers.”

Ogle marketing and sales director Dave Bennion said: “The latest technology provided by 3D printing is enabling innovation across all kinds of industries. 3D printing and additive manufacturing are terms that are, today, frequently used synonymously to denote a group of additive processes that produce – or print – parts directly from 3D CAD data, one layer at a time. These additive processes have emerged and been greatly developed during the last 25 years and have proved advantageous for a host of applications including concept models, functional prototypes, tooling patterns and, more recently, production parts.”

The team at Ogle printed the shoes using special technology called SLS production, which gave a nylon-based print strong enough for walking in and bonded well to the leather upper.