what does slem do and why? our mission: creating meaningful innovation through footwear
branches in the netherlands, china, italy and usa not accredited: training for professionals
slem’s headquarters in waalwijk
slem’s headquarters in waalwijk
who studies at slem and why?
very diverse professionals, with a wish to innovate footwear students recruited for and sponsored by companies 100% success rate: they are all working in high level positions
consumer product innovation wish list
emotional value
highly functional
3 key areas of innovation equally important different emphasis per segment
harmless
consumer product innovation wish list Buying it was part of an experience Recognizable brand image Emphasizing your identity and making you feel more attractive Customized aesthetically to taste and lifestyle Made by yourself or made for you by a loved one Made by a craftsman, using rare and/or indigenous knowledge Luxury pricing
emotional value
Cannot be bought (can be won, given, inherited)
consumer product innovation wish list Made to measure Preventing/alleviating/curing disease Enhancing sport performance/endurance Enhancing mental health Interacting with other devices: Internet of Things Affordable, competitive price
highly functional
consumer product innovation wish list Can be recycled continually or is fully compostable Locally made Locally sourced Non-toxic Cruelty free No exploitation or slavery Honest, transparent price
harmless
future scenarios for shoe manufacturing
1.optimizing the current system
no need to change all machines fairly similar constructions adding some smart adjustments
future scenarios for shoe manufacturing
for china: first focus on brand building for europe & usa: reshoring
trend information + training
you first need to know what to produce! no brand dna means: no filter for information level of design in china is growing very fast!
reshoring: producing your own lasts
lasts made of high grade industrial wax can be melted over and over again without loosing quality fully circular system
design for automation = standardization!
robotics requires a new kind of design variety has to be created in smart ways functional elements used as branding
desma wrap nx: tweaking technologies
combining existing technologies in a smart way customization for fully injection molded footwear
desma wrap nx: tweaking technologies
making a profile creating a custom colour combination, saving it on a badge measuring pressure and scanning the feet in 3d
desma wrap nx: tweaking technologies
software chooses the best last out of 7 standard options measurements are translated into a custom last bottom (cnc) customized last goes into the molding machine... ready!
future scenarios for shoe manufacturing
2.manufacturing = retail
minimal delivery time and no transportation costs optimal use of new technologies manufacturing becomes an experience
how transparent should production be?
how much will a consumer pay for a pair of shoes that is made within 15 minutes with minimal or no human labour?
robotics = high-tech precision
presenting robotics in the same way as the car industry
interaction between humans and robots
robots and humans working together for work or entertainment
technologies that require less equipment
3d printfarms with affordable fdm printers that can already make a custom shoe in 4 hours for $199 retail can be operated by one person
technologies that require less equipment
3d knitting machines that can make custom clothes and shoes are already used in stores
fully 3d knitted shoes....?
SLEM student Jordi Montaner is working on fully knitted shoes including the sole...
but do we want to see these machines...?
or these...?
why this might happen in asia first...
in shanghai’s k11 shopping meets culture...
commerce meets art...
food meets entertainment...
and entertainment meets education...!
future scenarios for shoe manufacturing
3. biotech: the network economy
each neighbourhood/household will be its own ecosystem products are services, fully circular and possibly homegrown our current idea of commerce will be disrupted
raw materials will be the new currency
product ranges could depend upon material and waste streams products get a material passport that states their ingredients this system offers ultimate transparency
entirely different companies will make shoes!
shoes made from co2 emissions by an energy company
unexpected biomaterials
fabric from manure plant-based flexible 3d printing filament synthesized spider silk
the new manufacturing revolution
innovate or be late... sponsor a slem student!
office@slem.nl
microbiologist Sasha Igdari received a scholarship from Stahl to research how to grow exotic animal skin in the lab!