The HERON01 Takes 3D-Printed Sneakers Into a New Stratosphere
Brand: Heron Preston for Zellerfeld
Model: HERON01
Release Date: October 5
Price: $10 for a raffle entry
Buy: Exclusively at StockX (with a limited release planned at Zellerfeld)
What We’re Saying: Heron Preston has teamed up with Zellerfeld, a relative newcomer to the sneaker game, for his latest footwear project. As its name suggests, the sneaker is inspired by the heron and features scales and other details found on the bird’s feet. The shoe was completely 3D printed, created without factories and a supply chain, and can be fully recycled by Zellerfeld to create new material.
The HERON01 will arrive in three colorways — all white, orange, and black — and slots right in with other crazy slip-on shoes such as the YEEZY Foam Runner, Salehe Bembury’s Crocs, and the ALYX Mono slip-on. The fact that the sneaker is 3D-printed allows for an unorthodox synergy between upper and sole unit. No stitching or glue was used, meaning the shoe (which is made using a single material) can be fully recycled. It can be printed in standard sizes and can be custom-fitted to one’s feet by using an iPhone scan, creating the best possible fit.
Zellerfeld is a technology company that has burst onto the sneaker scene thanks to its 3D printing technology. It was founded in 2015 and has been conducting research and development since then, meaning the release of the HERON01 has been five years in the making. A more sustainable approach to sneaker design and manufacturing is a key driver behind Zellerfeld’s push to shake up the sneaker industry.
Just because they've spent all that time developing the shoe, though, doesn't mean that it's one-and-done: Zellerfeld sees the HERON01 as a "beta test" of sorts.
"We are excited to finally release our first public Beta Test," Zellerfeld CEO Cornelius Schmitt told us. "It is the chance for footwear enthusiasts to help us hunt bugs, find improvements and pave the way for future mass produced models."
Both Preston and Zellerfeld have teased the HERON01 over the past few months, though detailed information remained scarce until now. Mr. Bailey, founder of CONCEPT KICKS, also played a role in shaping the design direction of the shoe.
Preston and Zellerfeld will be releasing the HERON01 via a StockX raffle on October 5. Each raffle entry costs $10, with proceeds from the raffle going to benefit Global March, a charity fighting child labor in supply chains.
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