Zellerfeld’s GEN3 3D printer, Phia’s $8M celebrity-backed raise, Fittora’s selfie-to-fit tailoring launch
Zellerfeld launches GEN3 to scale 3D-printed footwear; Phia raises $8M with backing from Kleiner Perkins and celebrity investors; Fittora debuts AI-powered tailoring to cut waste and returns.
Zellerfeld’s GEN3 Aims to Put 3D Printed Shoes on Millions of Feet
Footwear innovator Zellerfeld has unveiled its GEN3 3D printer, designed to take additive manufacturing from niche collaborations to mass-market adoption. Building on earlier systems that powered projects with Hugo Boss, Sean Wotherspoon, and Mallet London, GEN3 is three times faster than its predecessor, supports multicolor printing, and runs fully autonomously. Zellerfeld is also opening its platform to designers, with over 1,000 on-demand shoe designs expected by year-end.
Why it matters: GEN3 represents a tipping point for 3D printed footwear, shifting the narrative from experimental prototypes to scalable, personalized production. If successful, Zellerfeld could reshape how many shoes are made, reducing waste, and lowering overproduction.
Paloma Duran
Phia Raises $8M Seed Backed by Hailey Bieber, Kris Jenner, and Sheryl Sandberg
Fashion tech startup Phia, cofounded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, has secured an $8 million seed round led by Kleiner Perkins, with celebrity investors including Hailey Bieber, Kris Jenner, and Sara Blakely. The AI-powered shopping platform, launched in April 2025, now counts 500,000 users and 5,000 brand partners, promising to streamline the e-commerce experience through personalized, agent-driven shopping.
Why it matters: Phia’s high-profile backing underscores a growing recognition that fashion is a trillion-dollar market ripe for disruption. By merging AI-driven personalization with cultural clout, Phia aims to capture a generation of deal-driven, mobile-first shoppers while signaling a wider investor appetite for consumer-facing AI in fashion.
Allie Garfinkle
Fittora Launches AI-Powered, Made-to-Order Fashion Platform
London-based startup Fittora has debuted an AI-driven clothing service that turns selfies into precise body measurements, combining computer vision with human stylists and tailors to create bespoke garments delivered worldwide in six weeks. Priced from £80-£130, the platform promises “accessible luxury” while tackling fashion’s waste crisis by eliminating overproduction, cutting returns, and sourcing from sustainable fabrics. With features like AI styling prompts, human refinement, and repair options, Fittora blends tech efficiency with craftsmanship to scale sustainable personalization.
Why it matters: Fit is fashion e-commerce’s billion-dollar problem, driving waste and returns; Fittora’s model suggests a path where AI and on-demand production could replace mass manufacturing with tailored, lower-waste wardrobes.
The Interline