Champion of digital shoe technology defends leathe - footwearbiz: Lead

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Champion of digital shoe technology defends leather Oxfords

23/05/2018
The founder of teaching and technology organisation The Footwearists, Nicoline van Enter, has said organisations leading the use of digital technology in the shoe industry must be careful to use technology such as 3D printing only for “what it’s good for”, such as making prototypes.

Speaking at the 2018 UITIC Congress, Ms van Enter said: “People in the industry who know me know I am a champion of digital technology, but I am also a great believer in craftsmanship. There is no point thinking we can use 3D printing to make a leather Oxford. The only reason companies make and consumers buy shoes like that is because of the quality of the leather.”

She said she is waiting for a merger between craftsmanship and digitilsation because there are certain things a robot can do well and other things people can do well and that it will be interesting to see where the sweet-spot is between the two. “I don’t believe in trying to make everything faster and cheaper. I don’t believe in establishing a McDonald’s for footwear.”


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