These shoes are 3D-printed using flexible, durable filament so they can be folded up and stuffed into a pocket or bag (+ slideshow).
Designed by Ignacio Garcia of Spanish 3D-printing firm Recreus, the Sneakerbot II shoes are printed with the company's Filaflex 1.75-millimetre filament, which comes in a range of metallic colours and matte hues.
This elastic filament forms a rubbery, waterproof material that is bendy and retains its shape after being scrunched up.
The shoes can be printed on a MakerBot using a custom extruder also designed by Garcia, which prevents the elastic filament becoming tangled during the process.
Sole and upper are printed in one piece, then the tongue is attached to the front of the shoe. Holes for threading the laces through are incorporated into the print file.
Chunky faceted forms around the bases of the high-top trainers create a Futurist appearance.
This design builds on the original Sneakerbot model, which has smoother surfaces that look more like running shoes.
The files for both designs are available to download for free from MakerBot's Thingiverse website.
Others experimenting with 3D-printed footwear include fashion designer Iris van Herpen and sports brand Nike, which have both used the technology to create shoes. Also, 3D-printing company Cubify has launched a range of women's shoes that can be printed overnight at home.
