Influx

NikeID allows consumers to customize the aesthetics of their shoes, but not the form.

Now a British company Prior2Lever wants to go a step further than anyone has gone before by allowing soccer players to create their own customized boots.

The boot’s calfskin upper can be changed using technology to adapt color, appearance and function to the athlete’s needs. The outsole is designed using scans of the individual’s foot dimensions and unique walking/running style.

The boots will be made using a very high-end production process called selective laser sintering that uses high powered lasers to “print” a 3-dimensional object.

P2L isn’t just a shoe, it’s more like a service. The company aims to maintain on-going relationships with players, so shoes can be tailored and adapted to changing needs and styles.

This looks like a very selective service that only the serious amateur and professional player will be able to afford. However, it’s a very interesting example of how rapid prototyping technologies can create new high-end niche marketplaces for bespoke goods