3D-Printed Growing Customized Shoes

Michele Di Carlo designs the 4Steps 3D-printed sneaker concept, which offers a sustainable approach to footwear from a new angle. The shoes tackle the issue of children outgrowing their shoes at a consistent rate, having to buy new ones every few years.

This project has been in development since 2017 and addresses the issues of eco-sustainability in footwear by using the 3D printer to create the 4Steps. It is a resizable pair of lightweight shoes that are only 123 grams. It is made for children aged 6 to 14, who are able to wear the same shoes for up to five years. It uses molded components to create a honeycomb build to customize the shoe to the right fit.

Image Credit: Michele Di Carlo