The Future of Footwear: 3D Printed Shoes That React To The Movements And Outfits Of The Wearer
SOLS Systems is a brand that has usually created custom orthotics — shoe inserts or foot braces to steady the foot, due to injury or some form of plantar fasciatis. But this week, SOLS unveiled a prototype, through the use of 3D print technology to create a modular, 3D printed robo-boot, which was presented at the FAST AW15 event, which was part of NY Fashion Week.
The boot is called ADAPTIV, and its proposition is that is will be comprised of a nylon-esque shell 3D printed by Shapeways, nylon 3D printed insoles with air pockets and air bags ad a series of gyroscopes and pressure sensors. This is only a prototype right now, but the plan is for ADAPTIV is use the gyros and sensor to redirect air throughout the pockets and bags to respond to the wearer’s motions and body weight.
This reactive process, dubbed Instant Adaptability, is meant to expand upon SOLS’ already proven technology. While their orthopedics are customized to a wearer’s soles via iPad photo capture and 3D printing, ADAPTIV becomes the shoe customized to a person’s entire foot and ankle, as well as their movements and outfits. As the wearer walks, runs, or jumps, air (or a liquid gel) is redistributed to various parts of the shoe. Lit up by RGB LED lights, ADAPTIV will, ideally, use tiny cameras to register a wearer’s outfit and shift the shoes’ colors accordingly. If this technique becomes more refined, a digital texture process can map and then wrap around the boot in the future.
The Top 3 Retailers in Digital
Retailers are now realizing the need for digital investments to inspire store visits and online purchases. L2’s Digital IQ Index®: Specialty Retail recently assessed the digital performance of 82 specialty retail brands in the U.S. market, where five digital winners emerged.
These companies consistently integrated online and offline channels, providing consumers with real-time local inventory data. Here are the top three:
Sephora
Sephora’s mobile site provides customer experiences, with instant access to Beauty Insider account, purchase history, and “Loves” wish list. Product pages can be sorted by customer ratings and reviews, and provide the opportunity for viewers to engage in product Q&As, explore brand-specific boutiques and access tutorial videos.
IKEA
The Stylish Spaces room gallery links to e-commerce and the augmented reality app and gives users a preview of IKEA furniture in their homes.
It also.effectively maintained its status in Facebook engagement with consistent sponsored posts.
American Eagle Outfitters
American Eagle has partnered with close to 80 bloggers in its “Bloggers Do It Better” project. It is one of two brands in L2’s Specialty Retail Index to partner with Apple Pay, and its YouTube channel is among the top 10 most-viewed in the study.
Climate Change Expert, Dr. Jason Box, To Lead Hurtirgruten Voyage on a Scientific/Research Expedition to Greenland.
There are many voyages and cruises now whose themes are wine, art, flowers, history and culture, but there are very few that involve the passengers in serious exploration and environmental data collecting. For those who would, as they travel to a working Greenland ice sheet weather station, this 12-day journey along Greenland’s northwestern coastline is perfect.
Dr. Jason Box is renowned for his discoveries regarding Arctic climate change, and will explain the results of his data collection on board Hurtigruten’s MS Fram. He will also lead discussions on climate change as evidenced in the High Arctic. The voyage departs Reykjavik, Iceland, on June 23, 2015. Setting course toward Disko Bay, guests will have the opportunity to dog-sled, hike, kayak and more, with daily landings – weather permitting – in the Inuit towns and villages that dot Greenland’s northwestern coast – from Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town, to Illorsuit, a fishing village that’s home to only 90 inhabitants. Passengers on this on this voyage will learn about this land and how its deterioration allows scientists and environmentalists a closer and probably more predictive look at the future of the planet.
The ship has 127 cabins, many of which are named for polar heroes, and its bow is specially designed so guests can observe the marine wildlife and natural phenomena that are in abundance on these voyages.
Millennial Intensity: Changing The Face of Luxury
According to recent stats, Millennials have about $200 billion in direct purchasing power and account for $500 billion more in indirect spending through influencing their parents. By 2017, the generation is expected to outspend the baby boomers, according to a separate study by Berglass + Associates recruiting firm.
The stakes are high for luxury brands, as aside from being more tech-savvy, Millennials are also more willing to experiment with emerging brands, said Andrew Robb, chief operating officer at Farfetch. His company handles the Web operations of 300 high-end boutiques around the globe.
“There’s this real change happening where people are moving away from just the big magazines dictating a viewpoint,” he said in an interview last month, crediting fashion blogs as one of the catalysts. “A lot of the time I’ll find customers are shopping with us because they love the fact that these boutiques stock these emerging labels.”
Another change happening within the industry—partially due to the influence of Millennials—is the evolution of the term “luxury.” It no longer refers exclusively to high-end purchases — handbags or jewelry. Now, it includes higher-price farm-to-table foods and craft beers, as well as unique travel experiences.
Wealth –X and Prognostications for The Chinese Lunar New Year Of The Goat
In honor of the Chinese Year of the Goat set to begin on 19 February 2015, Wealth-X’s website recently presented eight predictions for the ultra high net worth (UHNW) population in China for the coming year:
- Social mobility will drive an increase in China’s UHNW population in the lowest wealth tiers;
- UHNW wealth is expected to grow at a faster rate than the Chinese UHNW population, with an additional US$80 billion of wealth being created during the year;
- Flows of UHNW wealth outside of China will increase, with 5% more of UHNW assets held in foreign businesses;
- Tier 1 cities will increase in relevance with 60% of China’s UHNW population calling the four cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou home by the end of the year;
- Public wealth is expected to grow faster than private wealth in China with an additional US$45 billion held in public companies;
- Luxury spending in China will decrease by 4% due to the government’s anti-corruption crackdown;
- Chinese philanthropy will increase this year, with a 24% rise in the number of private foundations established;
- The number of UHNW expatriates in China will increase by 40% over the course of the year.
The Goat is the eighth zodiac sign in the 12-symbol Chinese horoscope. Wealth-X data shows that 8.4% of the world’s UHNW population was born in the year of the Goat – making it the fourth most common Chinese Zodiac sign for UHNW individuals. Good to know!
