Fashion Meets… Architecture? Reinventing Shoes at United Nude

3D printing technology continues to develop with such furious momentum that, according to current estimates, within the next 10 years, we could be putting factories and couriers out of business by downloading and printing those “need-right-now” shoes from the comfort of our very own homes. Sounds like science fiction, yes, but then, a mere 7 years ago, so did the ads for the iPhone 3G…

The Ammonite, designed by architect Fernando Romero, combines inspiration from “found objects” in nature with the latest 3D printing technology

Until that happy day arrives, though, United Nude is giving us all a sneaky peek at the possibilities to come in the form of a limited edition capsule collection produced in collaboration with five leading architects and designers – Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, Zaha Hadid, Ross Lovegrove, Fernando Romero and Michael Young – and 3D printing pioneers 3D Systems. Just 250 pairs have been printed in all, but, as part of the London Design Festival, you can view the full five-pair collection at United Nude’s flagship store in Covent Garden until the end of this week. Yep, shoes can now officially be classified as architectural masterpieces.

Visit the Reinventing Shoes exhibition at United Nude, 13 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DH, until Sunday 27th September (Open 11am-6.30pm Saturday; 12.30pm-6pm Sunday)

Samantha Simmonds

@Sam_Muses