3D Scanners and Printers in Custom Shoemaking

I'm thinking about future possibilities right now.

Here in North America where all the shoe manufacturing is overseas, and elaborately-sewn shoes are inexpensive, how could someone like me possibly compete? I think one of the ways is individualization. Making something that is just for one person. It fits over that bump on their foot and has a heel that is like those fabulous kitten heels they remember from their graduation shoes.

One shoemaker scans their client's feet to make the mold, called a last. When I first looked into scanning, the price of a scanner was prohibitive. Now however, 3D scanners are now becoming affordable http://www.makerbot.com/ makes a 3D scanner (for the shoe last) and a 3D printer (for the custom heels). Look at these innovative shoe designs from Kobi Levi Footwear Design. I like the heel that looks like bubblegum pulling off the sidewalk. That type of heel could be manufactured on a Makerbot.

There are still places in North America to learn how to make shoes. http://www.shoeschool.com/shoeschool/. And there are a few books: http://www.shoemakingbook.com/ and http://www.marywalesloomis.com/

So maybe this is one way us small-scale, local folks could compete in shoe manufacturing, by supplying the customization and design that you can't find at your local big box store.

Tera Incognita booties

These are also from Anthropologie. I don't know if this would work rendered in recycled vinyl tarp but it is nice to imagine it.

Time to Make Some Boots

I am using Mary Wales Loomis' book on Making Your Own Shoes from http://www.marywalesloomis.com/ to remake these boots. These boots are fine as they are but the heels are a bit high for me, so they are going to be my shoemaking laboratory. Here are the boots originally, and the second photo shows them full of plaster. I am making a mold to shape the vinyl material on. A shoe form or mold is called a last. I thought it would be interesting to incorporate cut-work designs into the boots, so I made some sketches of the first idea I have.

There really aren't many books out there on shoemaking, and Mary Wales Loomis' book is good, quite detailed and affordable. I also just ordered a book on designing patterns for shoemaking from http://www.shoetrades.com/. It's called Pattern Cutting- step by step patterns for footwear.

Shoemaking, hmmm

I wanted to go to a shoemaking workshop in Vancouver, Washington. I think I still want to explore shoemaking after seeing this Etsy seller Zerkahloostra's stuff:

In lieu of shoe school, I bought a book on making your own shoes, and I remade a pair of trainers/runners/kicks after making lasts (foot forms) out of socks and duct tape filled with Great Stuff foam. My friend said they look just like diabetic feet.

I'm going to make shoes out of vinyl, I think.