Step Forward — 3D‑Printed Shoes for a Better Future
- Chris Wong
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
by Sean
This project started with a simple question: why is it still so hard to get shoes that fit well, don’t cost a lot, and are good for the planet? Big factories need pricey molds, waste a bunch of material, and make it hard to change designs.
With 3D design and printing, we can try ideas fast, make custom fits, use less waste, and build stuff nearby. I’m making these shoes to be tough, adjustable, and eco‑friendly — and to give or sell them cheaply to people who really need them.
What if we made shoes like ideas — easy to edit, easy to change, and easy to print when you need them? What if each pair fit someone’s foot, could be re‑printed when they grow, fixed nearby, and made without shipping boxes across the ocean?
Table of Contents
Background Story
It started with a simple, kind of annoying truth: making shoes costs a lot and wastes a ton — especially when the shoes don’t even fit the people who need them most.
I kept thinking about families trying to save every dollar, kids who grow out of shoes super fast, and adults walking far in pairs that never really fit. Normal factories aren’t made for them. They’re made for huge batches, pricey molds, big orders, and giant warehouses.
So I asked a different question: what if we made shoes like ideas — easy to edit, easy to change, and easy to print when you need them? What if each pair fit someone’s foot, could be re‑printed when they grow, fixed nearby, and made without shipping boxes across the ocean?
That turned into StepForward: a plan to design and 3D print shoes that are adjustable, custom, and better for the planet — and to get those shoes to people who need them.
The Idea
My goal is to design and 3D print shoes that you can customize, adjust, and that are better for the planet, using cheap, eco‑friendly stuff. Instead of big factory shoes, these are made with 3D design and a printer, so each pair can be shaped just for someone, you can change comfort, style, or size with a few clicks.
No giant machines. No wasteful molds. Just ideas, time, and a printer.
Customizable: Change the size, arch support, tread pattern, and how soft or firm the middle feels for each person.
Adjustable: Swap or tweak parts like straps, insoles, or the lattice inside the sole without redoing the whole shoe.
Responsible: Print nearby, make less trash, skip single‑use molds, and recycle extra pieces.
Cost‑effective: No expensive tools, cheap to try new versions, and easy to scale with maker spaces.
Why 3D Printing?
In regular factories, making one shoe size or style needs a bunch of metal molds. They’re super expensive, and when a project ends, tons of molds get tossed in the trash. If you want to change one tiny thing, you have to start over.
With 3D printing, you just edit the file and hit print. Want a new shape? Softer sole? Bigger size? Click, click, print. It’s faster, cheaper, and way better for the planet.
Why It Matters
Fit and dignity: Shoes that fit mean comfort, confidence, and staying healthy.
Local production: Print near the people who need them, not in some far‑away factory.
No mold lock‑in: Old way = lots of pricey molds that end up in landfills. 3D printing = designs can change anytime with no extra trash.
Rapid iteration: Fix the file, not the factory.
Why 3D Printing vs. Factories
Molds are expensive: Every size and part can need its own mold. When production stops, the molds usually get thrown out. Bad for wallets and the Earth.
No easy fixes after molding: If the fit is wrong, you’re stuck. With 3D printing, tweak the file and reprint the same day for cheap.
Local agility: One printer can help a neighborhood. A small group of printers can help a whole town.
Less waste: Print only what you need. Recycle mess‑ups and extra bits when you can.
The Mission
These shoes aren’t meant just to sit on a shelf. The dream is to donate or sell them affordably to people in need — especially in communities where proper footwear is a luxury.
A single 3D printer could bring new possibilities to families who can’t afford factory‑made shoes. It’s not about profit; it’s about making something useful, kind, and sustainable — proving that technology can truly serve others.
A Step at a Time
3D printing has taught me that innovation doesn’t always mean bigger factories or faster production. Sometimes, it just means thinking differently — designing smarter, wasting less, and caring more.
My hope is simple: one day, a pair of these shoes will walk on the feet of someone who truly needs them.And with every step they take, the world might feel just a little lighter.
How You Can Help
Testers: Try a pair, walk a week, share feedback.
Makers: Print a set for your community; we’ll share files and setup sheets.
Partners: Schools, NGOs, shelters — let’s co‑create a local production hub.
Material sponsors: Recycled TPU/PETG suppliers welcome.
A Note on Purpose
This isn’t about “cool tech” for its own sake. It’s about applying new tools — 3D design and printing — to solve an old problem: access. If a child’s next pair can be made on a printer down the street, if a broken strap can be replaced in minutes, if fit can be tuned without shipping delays — that’s impact we can measure in steps taken, blisters avoided, and opportunities reached.
Follow Along I’ll keep sharing weekly updates — wins, failures, settings, and files — as the shoes evolve from prototypes to reliable, everyday companions. Just like the GlanceGo team built with care for the people they serve, GlideForward will keep listening, iterating, and improving — one layer at a time.
Let’s make every step count.
The Process
I’m still developing the prototypes, experimenting with different filaments and materials to find just the right combination — flexible but strong, comfortable yet durable.
Each test teaches me more: how temperature, speed, and layering affect the feel of the shoe, how special patterns can change support and comfort. It’s a perfect mix of engineering and art — every print is a new lesson waiting to be learned.
Week 1
In week 1, I learned how to measure a foot—length, width, and depth—and read a bunch of articles to really understand how feet work. Then I opened Autodesk Fusion and started designing the right shoe sole. It took a while to get the shape right and make the heel thicker than the forefoot. I also learned what the medial arch is and adjusted the design to support it.
