Bambu Lab and Presq have teamed up to bring something new to the world of footwear: shoes you can print at home, customize to your heart’s content and wear with pride. This initiative is about giving the tools of creation to anyone with a 3D printer and a spark of imagination. Their first offering, the Fig.(0), is a slip-on clog, and the start of a monthly series of designs that will change how we think about what we put on our feet.
The partnership between Bambu Lab, a company known for its fast and user-friendly 3D printers, and Presq, a Los Angeles based design studio, is all about accessibility. Big brands like Adidas and Nike have been making 3D printed footwear for years, producing sleek sneakers with intricate lattice soles. But those are locked behind corporate walls – buy them, wear them, end of story. Bambu Lab and Presq are taking a different path. Their designs are open-source, meaning anyone can download, modify and print them. The Fig.(0) is the first, a perforated slip-on made from matte TPE 85A, a material that balances flexibility with durability, with a soft, grippy finish that feels good to wear.
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The Fig.(0) is available on MakerWorld, Bambu Lab’s 3D model sharing platform, as a pre-sliced .3mf file designed for the company’s new H2D printer. It’s built for a US men’s size 10, but a scaling chart allows you to easily change for other sizes. For those who want to go further, a CAD file is included so you can add your own flair – think custom textures, attachments or performance improvements. The design includes PLA support elements which are removed after printing to reveal a clean, usable shoe.
Bambu Lab’s printers are suitable for both novices and experts, whereas Presq offers H2D printers for prototype, ensuring that designs are practical and ready for production. The Fig.(0) is only the beginning; Presq will release new designs every month, each with a blank canvas.
Footwear has been a walled garden for too long, controlled by big companies with deep pockets and complex supply chains. Bambu Lab and Presq are making these designs free and modifiable, allowing them to reach a larger audience. Over time, developers will modify similar designs for additional printers, such as the Bambu Lab A1 Combo, making them more accessible.
