Editor’s Note
This article highlights a key challenge in the 3D-printed footwear market—consumer hesitation due to unfamiliar materials, pricing, and designs. Hek Lab’s new EDDY model, developed on Zellerfeld’s platform, aims to bridge this gap by offering a shoe designed for daily wear, potentially making additive manufacturing more accessible to mainstream buyers.
The design studio Hek Lab has introduced the EDDY model, a 3D-printed shoe specifically designed for daily use. With this, the company addresses a well-known problem in the additive manufacturing footwear market: many buyers are reluctant to purchase shoes if the materials, price level, delivery time, and often experimental design language differ from what they are accustomed to. Hek Lab had developed the shoe on Zellerfeld’s platform. According to its own information, the company had previously focused primarily on conceptual prototypes.
Therefore, with the EDDY, the primary goal was not a flashy concept, but a wearable product for everyday life. The design is based on the natural shape of the foot and aims to provide a feeling of lightness and closeness to the ground while walking. The shoe is made-to-order using Zellerfeld’s proprietary manufacturing process. The company operates a farm of its own developed 3D printers that work with specialized material extrusion.
The material used is ZellerFoam, a specially developed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Of particular technical relevance is the design as a continuous monomaterial component. Seams and adhesives are completely eliminated, which simplifies the assembly process and also fits into the recycling strategy.
The company also references its current GEN3 system, which is said to allow significantly higher printing speeds compared to previous generations. This is a key factor for on-demand production, as it allows for better control of production times and unit costs.
Hek Lab uses a herringbone pattern for the sole profile, which according to the company should provide traction on different surfaces. The upper uses an open mesh structure for breathability and flexibility; the high sides are designed to better protect the feet in wet conditions. The EDDY shoes have been available since December 11th and cost $149.