Matt Varga 3D-printing has long been an object of fascination in the footwear industry, both as a renaissance in the manufacturing process and a way to chart new courses in aesthetics. Yet in fits and starts, the Three Stripes has teased a novel frontier, bringing the concept to the performance world via the adidas “R.A.P” platform.
First unveiled with a double shot of football and basketball, showcasing how a fresh class of impending NFL draftees explored a tangible development space and pinning the first product, the R.A.P. 3D-printed basketball shoe, on NBA hopeful Darryn Peterson. Now, it’s soccer in focus, as the German giant reveals a spiked football boot replete with a lattice-laden form recognizable from the Climacool series.
Always bandied about in discussion of 3D printing, adidas teases a future of entirely individualized creations: the silhouettes’s 3D-printed design “provides a bespoke fit and delivers tailored support.” And of course, as the “Radical Athlete Perception” moniker would indicate, top-tier players both influenced the design and stand to benefit from it; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ademola Lookman provided their insight to development and will wear it in game in the near future.
Though adidas provides this first look at the Project R.A.P. Football Boot, they’re far more tight-lipped when it comes to public availability. So far, all we know is that these should be coming to market “in the coming months.” In the meantime, check out official product images below.
