Credit: DA.MI.
When people think of the “shoe of the future,” their minds fly to movie scenes. The Nike shoes worn by Marty McFly in the film Back to the Future, with their self-lacing technology, made children of the Eighties dream. Yet, if we are looking for futuristic innovations in the footwear sector, the most profound transformations are not aimed at those who wear the product, but at the supply chain.
“Materials are at the heart of our research,” says Elisabetta Pieragostini, CEO of Da.Mi., a sole manufacturer that in recent years has been leading the supply chain’s race toward the future of footwear. Starting with ETPU, which the company introduced to Europe, opening this market as well to an innovative technology that not only allows soles to be increasingly high-performing in terms of flexibility and lightness, but also highly recyclable. All the way to the most innovative materials in the field of sustainability, such as those obtained from recycled T-shirts or tennis balls, presented at Lineapelle.
“But we also strongly believe in additive manufacturing: we have 10 machines arriving from China that will make us increasingly competitive. Now it is up to companies to embrace all of its potential.” Indeed, 3D printing is not limited to the world of sneakers: according to data from the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, more than half of industry players use additive manufacturing for prototyping components such as soles and heels, while a significant share uses it for molds, lasts, and equipment. Its value lies in its ability to accelerate collection development, reduce sampling costs, and make the management of micro-series and capsules sustainable.
“But small-scale production is also beginning. Companies—both those in the supply chain and luxury brands—will only be able to move forward if they embrace innovation and a new way of doing business. This will be a year of choices: those who move ahead must do so with a strategic vision. Price competition will increasingly fade, and success will belong to those who bring something new to the customer: in terms of services, products, and loyalty.”
