Nike 3D printing patent, China's robotics advantage, Launchmetrics brand perception AI

Nike patents 3D printing tech for custom-fit shoes

Nike has secured a new patent for a 3D printing system designed to create shoes tailored precisely to a wearer’s foot shape and pressure points. The method uses digital foot scans to guide the additive manufacturing process, enabling hyper-personalized footwear without traditional molds or mass production constraints.

Why it matters: This move highlights Nike’s push toward on-demand, data-driven design, offering a glimpse at a future where fit, comfort, and performance are no longer one-size-fits-all but built uniquely for every step.

New Nike Patent Uses 3D Printing for Perfect Fit Shoes - 3D Printing Industry

Global sportswear company Nike has secured a patent for a 3D printed feature that adjusts a shoe’s fit and comfort to the individual wearer. The process, outlined in U.S. Patent 12369691 B2, begins with a 3D scanner that captures the precise contours of the user’s feet. Using this data, a custom tubular structure is designed […]

3D Printing IndustryAlex Tyrer-Jones

The robots are coming

China’s aggressive push into robotics is beginning to transform fashion and beauty manufacturing, with automation increasingly used for tasks like fabric handling, product assembly, and warehouse logistics. Backed by government investment and a growing domestic robotics sector, the shift promises faster turnaround times, greater precision, and reduced labour dependency.

Why it matters: Beyond a slight sense of disquiet, this shift raises critical questions about labour and the fabric of society. As China sets the pace, the industry must grapple with how to balance innovation with its human and cultural foundations. What does “ethical production” really mean in an automated age?

The Fashion And Beauty Impact Of China’s Robotics Push

China is investing heavily in ‘embodied robotics’, with a vision for factory floor automation that could offer a practical answer to the ongoing question of supply chain uncertainty.

The InterlineThe Interline

Launchmetrics unveils AI tools to decode brand perception in real time

Launchmetrics has introduced a suite of AI-powered tools (paywall) designed to help fashion and beauty brands analyze how they’re perceived across media, influencers, and consumer touchpoints. The new capabilities go beyond traditional metrics by using machine learning to interpret sentiment, narrative shifts, and brand alignment at scale.

Why it matters: As brand equity becomes increasingly shaped by fast-moving digital conversations, these tools offer marketers a way to track (and respond to) reputation in real time, with data-driven clarity.

Launchmetrics Unveils AI-powered Tools to Decode Brand Perception

Launchmetrics introduces AI-driven tools to analyze brand perception, blending emotional insights with quantitative metrics.

WWDEvan Clark