# 3D Luxurious Leather Shoes These 'Bit Shoes' by Earl Stewart Are Made with 3D-Printed Leather By M | Published 2013-06-05 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-shoes References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/design/leather-meets-3d-printing-in-the-bits-shoe-by-earl-stewart/) & [cargocollective](http://cargocollective.com/earlstewart) Creative shoe designer and innovator Earl Steward has made a name for himself for developing printable [3D](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-flip-flops) shoes. His latest pair of dapper 3D shoes are known as the 'Bits Shoe.' The 'Bits Shoes' ingeniously merge traditional leather craftmanship with modern [3D printing technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asics-novalis-styrax-breeze). How it works is a 3D printer is used to accurately precision scan the wearer's foot to create a personalized shoe mold and customized insoles. Then, the 3D printer uses fine-point lasers to cut into [high-quality leather](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-tie-20) and create the design. Each piece is then sewn together by hand to create these amazingly thin 3D shoes. Because of the thin and barefoot-like feel of these 3D shoes, these sneakers are extremely flexible and provide great support for the foot's arches and ankles . Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/design/leather-meets-3d-printing-in-the-bits-shoe-by-earl-stewart/), [cargocollective](http://cargocollective.com/earlstewart) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 79% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Fashion for Men](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashionformen) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **3d-printed Shoes:** The development of 3D-printed shoes opens up new opportunities for customization and personalization. - **Merge of Traditional Craftsmanship and Technology:** The combination of traditional leather craftsmanship with modern 3D printing technology provides a unique blend of old and new. - **Flexible Barefoot-like Shoes:** The creation of thin and flexible 3D shoes that mimic the barefoot feel offers improved comfort and support. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Footwear:** The footwear industry can benefit from integrating 3D printing technology to create customized and unique shoe designs. - **Fashion:** Incorporating 3D printing technology in the fashion industry allows for innovative and avant-garde shoe designs. - **Craftsmanship:** The merge of traditional craftsmanship and technology presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of leatherworking and shoemaking. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [3D Printed Shoe Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/customfit-3d-printed-shoes.md) - [Scan-to-Print Custom Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vivobiome.md) - [3D-Printed Winter Sport Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bobsled-footwear.md) - [Custom 3D-Printed Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sean-wotherspoon-x-zellerfeld.md) - [3D-Printed Sports Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-air-max-1000.md) - [Sculptural 3D-Printed Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lv-cobra.md) - [Personalized Footwear Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asics-personalization-studio.md) - [Electric Truck Shoe Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/footwear-project.md) - [Futuristic 3D-Printed Clogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asics-novalis-styrax-breeze.md)