After teaming up with Copenhagen's Rains and London's Pangaia earlier this year, 3D-printing specialist Zellerfeld has now landed in Milan for the all-new Moncler Trailgrip 3D. While the luxury outdoors label's gorpcore Trailgrip line has already been around for quite some time, this very avant-garde, very sustainable, and very rare silhouette gives us a glimpse of what to expect in the future.
Painted in a dark khaki green, the Trailgrip 3D is printed from a single, fully recyclable TPU throughout. A series of intricate curves and grooves feature across the lateral and medial sidewalls, and underfoot, you'll find an extra chunky, hike-friendly midsole that extends towards the front of the upper and around the collar. The new gen trainer is then finished off with Moncler's rooster logo around the heel.
“We are honoured to partner with such an iconic and visionary brand,” said Zellerfeld’s CEO and co-founder, Cornelius Schmitt, in the official press release. “As Moncler’s first venture into 3D-printing, this collaboration serves as a monumental moment for the footwear industry… Luxury fashion houses like Moncler are driving the future of fashion by embracing 3D-printing production models as the new standard.”
According to a recent study, sneaker manufacturing accounts for around 1.4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That's a big number, especially considering that air travel is responsible for 2.5 per cent. Which is why shoes like the Trailgrip 3D are so important. Not only does it not need to be dyed or coloured, which is in itself a very water intensive process, it can also be fully recycled again and again (and again), preventing even more stuff from heading to landfill.
The Moncler Trailgrip 3D will be showcased at the brand's Fall/Winter 2023 footwear showroom in Paris, titled Studio Ascenti. An extremely limited release is set to drop soon for members of Moncler’s global footwear community, with a wider launch expected sometime in the near future.