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Auxetic Wear

A shoe that adapts to the foot – not the other way around. A reinterpretation of a classic design. By utilizing an auxetic structure, the boot adapts itself to the ergonomics of its wearers’ feet by expanding or compressing on a local level. Learning from classic shoemaker craft, we created a pattern consisting of two-dimensional shapes that are very effective for 3D printing due to their low profile.

2022

Case Study

Research

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The first experiments

Auxetic structures have the property of expanding bidirectionally as soon as a tensile force is applied to them – perfect for ergonomic forms. Various textures were created and tested in different materials. We finally decided to use 3D printing as a manufacturing method.

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Designing a shoe pattern

To create an organic shape, a base structure had to be created, like a skeleton. It gives the design its final form, serves as reinforcement where the individual parts come together, and supports the auxetic structure.

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"The parts are glued together and then stitched onto the existing sole – very much combining traditional craft with modern technologies. The final design was refined in many iterations."

Rebecca Meixner

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Together with Rebecca Meixner