Forget that trip to the shoe store. Why not just have your computer make your footwear for you?
That's the basic idea behind Finnish shoe designer Janne Kyttanen's latest project. He's released a collection of shoes that can be assembled by a 3D printer, Mashable reports. Customers can download the blueprints for Kyttanen's designs then make them on their own 3D printer, a fairly new technology that can create 3-dimensional objects from specified materials based off of digital models.
Of course, 3D printing remains a relatively rare technology, with home models retailing over $1,000, so using a 3D printing service like Cubify might be a better option, according to Mashable. Or check out one particular UPS in San Diego that began offering 3D printing services around a month ago to help you render one of Kyttanen's designs.
The collection of wedge heels –- which includes four models -– is on display on Kyttanen’s Cubify profile. Here's one of them:
Many expect 3D printing to become increasingly popular since the technology offers small businesses and designers like Kytannan a number of advantages. Instead of entering full-scale production, which is often costly, businesses can now test, develop and distribute products on a much smaller scale, Business News Daily reports.
Indeed, Kyttanen isn’t the only fashion innovator attempting to leverage 3D printing technology. Protos Eyewear has launched a crowd-funding effort to bring 3-D printed eye glasses to customers, according to Venture Beat. Meanwhile, 3-D printing technology can also be applied to a number of products, such as bionic ears or even guns.
Related
Before You Go
