Servati Revolutionizes Eco-Friendly Footwear with 3D Printing
On March 9, 2024, Xpiens learned that the Lecce, Italy-based startup Servati is innovating in the footwear industry with 3D printing technology. Utilizing sustainable rubber and polyester materials, Servati produces detachable and recyclable sneakers that can be repurposed for new accessories. Founders Matteo Di Paola and Marco Primiceri stress the importance of environmental awareness in fashion.
Formed by two young visionaries, one with a background in economics and the other in design and visual communication, Servati was born out of a passion for fashion and sustainability during the pandemic. They devised a business model that embraces the principles of a circular economy, where shoes are sold, returned after use for recycling, and the customer is rewarded with a voucher for future purchases.
The innovation lies in a patented interlocking mechanism between the sole and the upper, eliminating the need for glue or irreversible seams. This design simplifies the shoe to just two recyclable materials: rubber and polyester, avoiding the use of adhesives, chemical solvents, or heat-activated bonding agents. The soles are crafted through rubber 3D printing, while the uppers are produced in collaboration with other footwear companies in the Casarano industrial area, extending the search for suppliers beyond local boundaries.
The founders describe their style as sustainable and dynamic, characterized by speed, motion, tension, sharp lines, and aerodynamic shapes. Supported and managed by the Puglia region, Servati has developed three models of 3D printed shoes, planning offline launches in Italy's major cities and online showcases to the public later this year.
Material selection was a meticulous process, aiming to ensure the creation of truly 100% recyclable products. At the end of their life cycle, the shoes can be dismantled for materials, contributing to other durable items in fashion and design, thus completing a full circular journey. The company has already experimented with recycling discarded shoes into new pairs, embodying the dream of a truly circular and green solution in the sneaker market.
Servati began accepting pre-orders for the first 100 pairs of sneakers on March 11, 2024.
Subscribe to Xpiens to learn more about the latest news in the 3D printing industry.
