Sessions
Session 18
MCP in the Fashion Industries: Shoes and Footwear
Tuesday Oct 6 2009
10:40-12:00
Dulio, Sergio (Vigevano, Italy)
Lodigiani, Fabio (Asset Pro S.r.l., Italy)
Brotini, Gabriele (Pakerson S.p.A. Cerreto Guidi, Italy)
Customized Luxory Men Shoes; the Pakerson Tailor Made Project
The paper presents the business case of the Italian footwear company Pakerson and of its “Tailor Made” project aimed at offering to its most valued and demanding customers a full range of customized, luxury men shoes. The work is structured in three parts; in the first one the main business goals and market expectations of the company are presented as well as the motivations that have led a well established traditional shoe maker to tackle this new market challenge. In the second part the technical elements of both the front (shop) and back end (production) processes are described and their implementation path is outlined; the final configuration of the various modules of the complete solution was the result of a careful selection work and of an intensive integration activity which are extensively described in the paper. The third and last part presents an overview of the initial returns after the first market exposure of the new concept in the Pakerson flagship store in Saint Petersburg (Russia).
Dulio, Lodigiani, Brotini -paper pdf
Head, Matthew (Loughborough University, United Kingdom)
Porter, Samantha (Loughborough University, United Kingdom)
Summerskill, Steve (Loughborough University, United Kingdom)
Specifying a system to facilitate the design, by consumers, of personalised running shoes
Running shoes are the largest selling category of sports footwear in the United States; however, only three of the ten major sportswear brands offer consumer footwear personalisation. Is there actually a demand for running shoe personalisation? If yes, are the foci of the current sports footwear personalisation services appropriate? In this paper these questions are addressed. Investigation of the current research in these areas revealed market potential for the personalisation of running shoes. Focus groups were then used to establish the appropriate focus of a service offering personalised running shoes; examining, in-depth, consumers’ purchasing habits and relationships with running shoes. The findings suggest that the focus on aesthetics in current personalisation services is not well suited for consumers more interested in the comfort and fit of their running shoes. The importance of these factors also implies a need for a physical store based service, in direct contrast to the existing internet based services.
Salles, Andre S. (Loughborough University, United Kingdom)
Gyi, Diane E. (Loughborough University, United Kingdom)
The specification of personalised footwear for rapid manufacturing: a pilot study
Although rapid manufacturing has potential in producing personalised footwear, it is not known how best to measure feet in this context nor even whether a personalised shoe can positively affect comfort, performance and prevent risk from injury. A pilot study was conducted to define anthropometric measurement techniques for specifying personalised footwear and evaluate the most effective methods of measuring discomfort, performance and injury risk. Recreational runners were recruited and had anthropometric measurements taken as well as the plantar surface of both feet scanned. Participants then were fitted with footwear under two experimental conditions: control and personalised insole. The footwear were compared in terms of discomfort ratings, performance and injury risks. Metatarsophalangeal joint height and hallux height showed positive correlations (p ? 0.05) with discomfort scores in the forefoot, whereas relative arch deformation showed significant positive correlations (p ? 0.05) with discomfort scores in the midfoot and arch areas. No significant differences were found between the two conditions for discomfort scores and performance. With regard to injury risks, significant differences (p ? 0.05) were found between the two conditions for midfoot peak plantar pressure. The results suggest that producing personalised insoles from scan data and the rapid manufacturing process is feasible.
Pallari, Jari (Materialise NV, Belgium)
Jumani, Muhammad (Newcastle University, United Kingdom)
Dalgarno, Kenny (Newcastle University, United Kingdom)
Woodburn, Jim (Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom)
Rapid manufacturing of orthotics and prosthetics – is it a good idea?
This research presents the possibilities of creating customised orthotic and prosthetic products using rapid manufacturing (RM) processes, which show potential in improvinglead times, quality, consistency and patient care. Researh addressing the various technical, clinical and commercial aspects of orthotic and prosthetic devices and and their production and how RM could improve the state of the art is presented in this paper. Limitations in the manufacturing technology and in associated materials and material properties research coupled with the conservative nature of the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry has prevented these technologies from being adapted so far. Nevertheless, the right combination of RM technologies, new kinds of functional integration systematic design and engineering, proper clinical research and co-creation of the devices with the patient open up great possibilities to create a new generation of O&P devices that could have a major impact in the industry.