Dolce Vita is taking the footwear industry forward with the brand’s largest on-demand, 3D-printed footwear launch to date — powered by a partnership with Hilos.
The footwear brand said in a statement that the Dolce Vita Holis 3D shoe “breaks industry expectations as the only commercially available 3D-printed shoe manufactured on-demand in the USA. The scale of this launch is a glimpse at the future 3D-printing holds for innovative design language, reduced waste and a rebirth of domestic manufacturing.”
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Dolce Vita said the partnership with Hilos aims to “reimagine how an iconic silhouette can be reimagined with industry-leading 3D printing capabilities enabled by the Hilos sketch-to-3D design platform.” The shoe, the Holis 3D, takes a signature silhouette from spring 2024 “that now blends a high-quality 3D-printed outsole and upper with a heritage leather wrapped footbed, bringing together the most advanced manufacturing technology with the craft and comfort of Dolce Vita,” the brand said.
The new shoe is being sold on dolcevita.com and carries a price point of $130 and is available in women’s sizes 6 to 13 and is offered in color palettes of Ivory, Light Sage, Light Yellow and Café. The brand said the new shoe integrates the creative flexibility of digital design with the accurate precision of engineered 3D technology, breaking down the boundaries between design and manufacturing.
Kerry Norlin, president of Dolce Vita, said the brand, owned by Steve Madden, is “committed to leading sustainability by collaborating with emerging tech start-ups and piloting alternative production methods. Our partnership with Hilos pushes the boundaries of footwear innovation — leveraging cutting-edge technology and circular, low-waste manufacturing.”
“Fashion has the power to drive real change, and when we pair that influence with science-backed solutions like Hilos, we move the industry forward,” Norlin said. “The more brands that invest in responsible innovation, the closer we get to making sustainability the standard.”
Elias Stahl, CEO and cofounder of Hilos, said the industry is at a turning point, “and it’s been incredible to see such a storied brand as Dolce Vita lean into a new way to design and make that is true to their heritage and craft while also setting new rules for design and production. This is a truly historical launch.”