Welded Mono-Material Shoes

From support and protection to cushioning and traction, footwear serves diverse functions and often calls for using multiple construction materials that complicate recycling efforts—Welded Loop is a research-led project that explores a mono-material shoe design with all parts made from TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane. The sneaker-style shoe design can be knitted, 3D-printed and welded, eliminating the need for extraneous fasteners like glues.

The process of creating a shoe begins with knitting a templated textile using TPU yarns, welding on 3D-printed eyelets, and then thermoforming this around a mold to create the upper. Finally, the form is welded onto 3D-printed soles. Although a mono-material shoe design might sound plain, the three-step process allows for plenty of unique details to be incorporated.