Case Study: Wiivv Wearables Inc. achieves rapid, scalable mass customization of personalized footwear with 3D Systems

Wiivv Wearables combines an innovative smart phone app and 3D Systems sPro 60 SLS printers to rapidly deliver custom shoe soles

Wiivv Wearables, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Vancouver with R&D and manufacturing in San Diego, set out to disrupt orthotics and footwear by delivering mass-customized, locally produced products with little or no inventory. The company’s challenge was to capture high-quality, individualized data (up to 200 data points) via a smartphone app and turn that into tens of thousands of custom insoles and a new custom-fit sandal with fast turnaround and efficient integration of 3D-printed arch supports and conventionally made components.

Wiivv solved this by pairing its app and image-processing pipeline with 3D Systems’ sPro 60 SLS printers (15 x 13 x 18 in build envelope, DuraForm® material options), producing 100%-custom parts and integrating arch supports into recyclable foam footbeds without tooling. The result: tens of thousands of units a year (Kickstarter’s most-funded 3D printed product in Feb 2016), U.S. delivery within five days, a return rate under 1%, more than a third of customers owning multiple pairs, and continuous production gains — 75% more parts per build and doubled efficiency — positioning Wiivv to scale toward hundreds of thousands of units and broader body-fitted apparel.

Wiivv Wearables Inc.

Shamil Hargovan

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer