Post by Jennifer Jilei Z.

Internal Innovation Project – Mono Filament Shoe Exploration Excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at an internal innovation project from the 3D Innovation & Development team at Lacoste — led by Ed Batchelor, Danny Jarvis, and myself. This initiative is about personal and team growth and diving deep into filament and resin 3D printing technologies. Through hands-on experimentation with in-house printers and materials, we're building a better understanding of how to leverage these tools in our product development process.   The idea sparked after our inspiring visit to Footwearology in December 2024: https://lnkd.in/evm5msvz, where we had the chance to connect with visionary industry leaders like Nicoline van Enter (Footwearology), Kuba Graczyk (Koobz) [ https://www.koo.bz/], and Fabrizio De Lucia and Cornelius Schmitt (Zellerfeld) [ https://lnkd.in/e8whBAmY]. The goal is to improve how we apply 3D printing in footwear creation — driving innovation, streamlining collaboration with design teams, and preparing for the sustainability and traceability standards being introduced by the EU in 2026 under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Specifically, ESPR will include a ban on the destruction of unsold apparel and footwear for larger companies, with phased implementation for medium-sized and smaller enterprises. This ban is part of a broader effort to promote circularity and reduce waste in the fashion industry.   Being the designer on the project, my key takeaway from the case has been the opportunity to revisit the Lacoste Zero Drop Casual last and refine it for improved fit, enhanced printability, and greater flexibility in 3D CAD editing. I’m excited to share that we’ve successfully printed our first prototype — and it fits perfectly in a UK size 4!   Also in the project we focused: - Extensive filament and resin testing, led by Danny Jarvis - Collaboration with material suppliers like Sara García García from Recreus [ https://lnkd.in/e668VziU] - Learning through trial and error , e.g. optimising flow rates, temperatures, and settings We're just at the beginning, but it's a promising step. As more brands explore these paths, it challenges us to rethink how we create, consume, and recycle footwear in the years ahead. More updates coming soon 🐊

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