disassembly lab’s 3D knitted recyclable sneakers can be taken apart for repair and restoration

Disassembly Lab’s recyclable sneakers is a conceptual study

The Disassembly Lab imagines sneakers with 3D-knitted parts that are repairable, restorable, replaceable, and recyclable. The lab is a conceptual and formal study that looks into making sneakers stay true to their promise of being sustainable and extend their lifespan. The Disassembly Lab suggests a way for sneaker makers to manufacture shoe designs that can be taken apart so they can be repaired, restored, replaced, and recycled.

Take the soles as an example. In this study project conceived by product designer Robin Luginbühl for ECAL, with the assistance of Emma Casella, the sneakers with TPU soles can be removed from the 3D-knitted uppers so they can be cleaned or restored, or it’s easy to replace them with new ones without throwing away the entire sneakers.

images courtesy of Robin Luginbühl and ECAL

Repairable and replaceable sneakers with 3D-knitted parts

As seen in the images, the Disassembly Lab’s repairable, replaceable, and recyclable sneakers with 3D-knitted parts can be produced in different ways. The TPU soles and upper parts can be tied using an elastic thread, or they can be glued together with recycled rubber. Since the sneakers are modular, the upper parts can also be manufactured with disposable or thrown-out materials, including excess fabric from the fashion industry. In this study, Robin Luginbühl references several concepts in shoe making, resulting in three sneakers over the course of his research process. These shoes, with their TPU soles and 3D knitted uppers, are reduced to the essentials to make it easier for factories to assemble them with easy recyclability.

the Disassembly Lab imagines sneakers with 3D-knitted parts that are repairable, restorable, and recyclable

Robin Luginbühl’s Diploma Project for ECAL

The Disassembly Lab is product designer Robin Luginbühl’s Diploma Project in 2023 during his student tenure at the L’école cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL). So far, it is a conceptual and formal study, but Robin Luginbühl’s visual inquiry may have already been tried out in real-life, including Zellerfeld’s washable 3D-printed shoes that can be broken down and remade again, Noa Zaidman’s recyclable modular shoes, and Diogo Pimenta’s three-part, modular sneakers. The Disassembly Lab advances the thought process that making repairable, replaceable, and recyclable shoes with 3D-knitted or -printed parts are possible, and giants in the industry may want to look into integrating the system into their production rather than introducing new shoe designs.

the Disassembly Lab suggests shoe designs that can be taken apart so they can be repaired, restored, and recycled