Feetz, a Graduate of the San Diego Founder Institute, and founder Lucy Beard are changing the way we think about footwear. How are they doing this? Feet is changing the name of the footwear game by printing durable, stylish, and most importantly, comfortable shoes.
Founded in 2013, Feetz has come a long way since turning out their first 100 shoes. Currently, Feetz has teamed up with footwear giant DSW to do a number of pop-up shops all across the United States starting in New York City. These pop-up shops will be manufacturing 3D printed shoes on site using the revolutionary Feetz technology in a tandem effort to not only provide customers with high-tech footwear that redefines the concept of comfort, but to also introduce many consumers to their first taste of 3D printing.
The market potential for an idea like Feetz is practically limitless. Everyone needs shoes. It is that simple. Plus, with the wonders of 3D printing technology, Feetz can literally print shoes that are exact fits for their customers offering a level of comfort and customization that no other shoe maker on the planet can match. There is no telling how big this idea could be. It already has the attention of footwear powerhouses such as DSW at this early stage in the company's life.
The shoes are made from recyclable materials for the environmentally conscious, they can be tailor-made to fit your feet exactly, and they offer a durability that cannot be matched by most traditional tennis shoes.
DSW is not the only one taking notice either. Feetz was able to pull together over 1.25 million dollars in seed funding, and then drew the interest of big-name players during their "Series A" funding which included DSW, Khosla Ventures, and The Jump Fund. Shortly after, Feetz and DSW furthered their partnership and rolled out the pop-up shop mentioned earlier.
"We've been amazed with the demand and the positive feedback we've received from our early Feetz customers. We've been perfecting and protecting our technology for the last 18 months so every customer gets what they deserve: a shoe that fits. Our new 3D printing manufacturing facility in San Diego, the first of its kind, will fulfill thousands of orders per month. DSW's impressive reach and customer centricity makes them the perfect partner for Feetz.” said founder Beard about her company's rise.
3D printing is no longer a niche market. Feetz is not the only company that has tried their hand at 3D printing shoes. Shoe giants New Balance and Nike have put out their own 3D printed shoes. However, it is not just sportswear that is being 3D printed. Fashion designers and footwear experts have been working on other types of 3D printed footwear including heels.
Feetz offers a unique service in this booming field with their customization abilities. Feetz will literally be tailored to your exact foot. This is something that the shoe giants do not offer, and this is why Feetz have become so popular. Their success has gotten them on the Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 100 Brilliant Companies of 2016 list and on Fast Company's Most Creative People of 2016 list.
You can get a pair of Feetz in men's and women's styles for only 199 dollars a pair. The shoes are beyond comfortable since they are made exactly to the dimensions of your feet, they are made from recycled materials, and they offer a durability that will ensure you won't need to buy new shoes for quite some time.
Feetz and DSW will continue to do pop-up shops around the country, so keep an eye out for Feetz in a store near you.
