Having just shared their concept for a 3D printed shoe – or, midsole – only last month, Adidas has shared the next chapter of their next ‘Futurecraft’ series; but this time they’ve turned to subtractive manufacturing rather than additive.
Billed as a “reimagining of how to work with leather”, the company’s Futurecraft Leather is made using a CNC mill and uses digital patterns to cut and grind custom upper designs that are optimized for flex, comfort, and support in a single, seamless piece of material. Traditionally, shoe uppers – especially those made from leather – are made from multiple smaller components that make up a larger assembly.
“By reimagining how to work with leather, a material that is synonymous with the Adidas brand, we have created a “first of its kind” product in an entirely new way,” explains the company. “Milling leather allows us to push the limits of our craft, bringing new form and function to a traditional material.”
https://youtu.be/Cl84LnbXb04
And for those who might have missed the first chapter of the Futurecraft series, the 3D printed midsole:
https://youtu.be/3RucyZiPfjw
“Our 3D-printed material not only allows us to make a great running shoe, but also to use performance data to drive truly bespoke experiences, meeting the needs of any athlete.”
The company is currently manufacturing specific Futurecraft models in limited runs.
