Berlin is no stranger to experimental collaborations and innovations in the fashion world. But the latest launch at Solebox’s flagship store takes things to a new level. In partnership with 3D printing pioneers Zellerfeld, the streetwear retailer has unveiled a world-first retail experience that replaces stockrooms with 3D printers and standard sizes with custom scans.
How Solebox is Rethinking Retail
For years, Solebox has stood out for its streamlined store in Berlin. Complete with futuristic touches like the robotic Solebot. Now they've taken things even further by replacing it with a live printer farm. A space where footwear is created on-demand right in front of your eyes.
This is Zellerfeld's proprietary 3D printing system, which builds entire sneakers layer by layer from a single recyclable material. A process with no stitching, no glue, and no waste. Visitors can watch the entire process unfold in-store, from the transformation of digital code into physical form for the final product.
Custom Fit For a Circular Future
Fast fashion and mass production lead to excess inventory, sizing issues, and lots and lots of waste. This partnership offers a possible solution.
A standout feature of this installation is the foot-scanning station, which maps your feet in 3D to generate a custom fit. That data is then used to print shoes tailored uniquely to your feet, eliminating the need to make standard sizes altogether.
Additionally, each pair is made for a single, recyclable component. Meaning that after you're done with your shoe, it can be broken down and reprinted.
The materials are all shown in display, including printed examples of internal structures that replace traditional foams, stitching, and overlays. It explains how comfort, support, and fit are engineered directly into the shoe during printing, using just one material and one seamless process.
A Co-Creation Experience
"This isn't about wearing the future, it's about participating in it"— Solebox CEO Alijoscha Kondratiev.
By turning the traditional customer into a co-creator, this concept invites sneakerheads to rethink their role in fashion. You're not just picking a model and size off the shelf, but you're scanning, selecting, and printing a shoe built for you by you.
Solebox and Zellerfled have launched a new way of making sneakers. And while 3D-printed footwear is still a relatively niche idea, their collaboration demonstrates what becomes possible when innovation meets intention.
Whether this becomes the standard or not, it's a step forward in the right direction.
All Images: @solebox
Curious to learn more about 3D printing in fashion? Check out Reflawn's news page for sustainable design breakthroughs.
What makes the solebox x Zellerfeld sneakers more sustainable?
They’re made from a single, recyclable material with no glue or stitching. This reduces production waste and simplifies recycling at the end of their life.
How does the custom fit work?
The in-store scanner creates a 3D map of your feet. Zellerfeld then uses that data to print a pair of shoes tailored exactly to your shape.
Can I get my shoes the same day?
No, the shoes are printed to order and shipped to you after the scan and design are completed.
