ECCO Labs Open the Doors to the Futuristic BIOM INFINITE
Leanne Jack
Danish footwear specialists opened the doors to their futuristic Labs department as part of a jam-packed Copenhagen Fashion Week. The innovative R+D space is a brand-new concept platform within the proud ECCO family. Select sneakerheads were invited into ECCO Labs to try out the new a shoe harnessing all of the brand’s cutting-edge design, material and technology.
An evolution of the original 2009 BIOM project (biomechanical optimisation), the BIOM INFINITE pushes the envelope even further, allowing the wearer to fine-tune and customise the shoe to their own individual needs and preferences.
Showcasing 3D printed silicone (Quant-U), ultralight foam (LYTR), and FLUIDFORM injection technology, the uppers were created by textile innovators BYBORRE using recycled knit and bonded with perforated leather lining from ECCO’s own tanneries.
Rendered in a trio of colourways, the silhouette was created by Humberto Jimenez, design director at ECCO Labs.
‘Every single shoe has a unique pattern on the uppers,’ says Jimenez. ‘The design really leans into the customisable aspects of the BIOM INFINITE.’
Specifically crafted to allow for interchangeable cores, the adaptive BIOM INFINITE caters for everything from high-intensity workouts to low-impact activities.
Of all the shiny new technological hardware, it was undoubtedly the 3D printed silicon (Quant-u) that sparked the most chatter on the day. Tailoring the fit, performance and comfort to the individual wearer, the data-driven process allows ECCO to develop a unique footbed design ready to be 3D printed on demand.
Of course, sustainability has long been a central focus for the Danish imprint, as they are one of several Nordic countries leading the charge in clean energy globally. Patrizio Carlucci, head of ECCO’s Innovation Lab, says that the BIOM INFINITE presents cleaner pathways for the industry moving forward.
‘The vision that we have for a product like the BIOM Infinite is that the most degradable parts of the shoe is something that you can exchange without replacing the entire shoe. That’s a really big part of the approach for us in terms of sustainability,' says Carlucci.
And what of the future of ECCO’s footwear beyond the BIOM INFINITE?
‘For many years, we've been working on organic materials that grow. Imagine a sandal that you wear for one week. After that, you plant the sandal and it becomes compost. That’s something that ECCO is working on right now. It would be a 100 per cent sustainable product.’
For now, look for the BIOM INFINITE to hit ECCO stores on August 29.
For more on the latest in footwear innovation, make sure to check out our latest on 3D printing.