Would You Wear 3D Printed Shoes? FORMISM by SCRY Tests the Answer

The question sounds simple: would you leave the house wearing a pair of 3D printed shoes? For most people, the answer is still no. But a new experiment from FORMISM and Bambu Lab suggests that might be starting to change.

Last December, the two launched a collaborative project releasing nine shoe models through Bambu Lab's MakerWorld platform. Three were completely open source and free. The rest launched as a crowdfunding campaign. After nearly two months, the results are in: over a thousand downloads and prints, and a growing community of people actually wearing the shoes in public.

The Comfort Problem

Wei Zixiong, founder of FORMISM, has been wearing 3D printed shoes himself for the past two to three years. His goal was never to create futuristic conceptual designs — he wanted to make something you could actually wear every day.

The key challenges were materials and parameters. On the material side, flexible filaments have come a long way. On the parameters side, Wei treats slicing like traditional shoemaking — carefully adjusting settings for each part of the shoe. By controlling infill and wall thickness in different areas, he addresses layer adhesion while providing the cushioning needed for everyday walking.

Everyday vs. Expressive

FORMISM has now released ten models covering different scenarios: slippers, sneakers, high heels, and boots. The free ARC series focuses on streamlined forms and practical usability — Wei's intention is to break the stereotype that 3D printed shoes are just conceptual art.

The PERSONA and ROAM series, released through crowdfunding, take a more experimental approach. PERSONA draws inspiration from perfume — different styles representing different emotions and life states. ROAM comes from sci-fi games like Death Stranding — heavy equipment designed for surviving alien landscapes.

Open Source Evolution

Before release, both Bambu Lab and FORMISM conducted internal wear tests. But the real validation came after launch. As more users printed and wore the shoes, feedback poured in, and the models have been continuously updated and improved.

The core question remains: has FORMISM helped people take 3D printed shoes more seriously? The answer seems to be forming — one download and one pair of worn shoes at a time.