Concept Sneaker Boasts One-Piece 3D Printed TPU Construction

A new concept sneaker revealed at Paris Fashion Week makes use of 3D printed TPU not just for the sole, but the entire body of the shoe — a consolidation that hints at how additive manufacturing might further streamline footwear production in the future. The Reebok × Botter shoe was engineered with the HP 3D printing team based in Barcelona and manufactured using the latter’s Multi Jet Fusion technology. 

Taking design inspiration from the shell of the predatory murex snail, the shoe features a distinctly ridged sole and a laced upper. The pairs showcased at Fashion Week were hand-painted to complement the colors of the Caribbean Sea found throughout Botter’s FW23 collection. 

While clearly a limited-run luxury product, the shoes’ one-piece construction speaks to future possibilities for 3D printed footwear. Fewer materials and fasteners used in a product means it is easier to break down later, and the TPU material was selected for comfort as well as its high recyclability. Additionally, the partners involved say that the manufacturing process avoids creating waste and is agile enough to produce shoes on demand.

“We enable new levels of design freedom, fast and agile product development, and a more sustainable local manufacturing process,” says François Minec, global head of polymers at HP Personalization & 3D Printing. “This collaboration with Reebok and Botter is a perfect introduction of the HP solution to the footwear world.”

“We aim to push the boundaries of technology and sustainability while embracing the legacy of Reebok,” say Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, Botter.

According to a press release issued by HP, the project represents “the first leap into innovation, sustainability and fashion” that Reebok is taking with the New Guards Group, an Italian fashion production company, since being acquired by the Authentic Brands Group in 2022 and hints at more to come. 

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• More on HP’s Center of Excellence in Spain and the company’s approach to growing additive manufacturing adoption
• Another instance of recyclable shoes using 3D printed TPU for mass customization
• A different approach to shoe manufacturing enabled by 3D printing — here, with MJF applied for injection mold tooling
• More on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for 3D printing