REALITY – the future of footwear
Project Overview
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About
Extending the lifespan of footwear is the mission of Reality - The Future of Footwear. Constructed out of 3D printed, fully biodegradable nano-cellulose, the footwear has self-healing capabilities to extend its usable lifespan. Embedded with microvascular healing in the upper sole, and intrinsic healing in the outsole, the shoe is able to regenerate up to 50% of its total surface area. The shoes are designed to be locally manufactured to bring resources back to communities and deconstruct the complex global supply chains contributing to carbon emissions and inhumane working conditions.
Team
Premal Gadhia
Imperial College London
Premal Gradhia, Co-founder and CPO at Fibe, is a highly experienced engineer with a strong background in management and testing. He earned his MEng from Imperial College London, specialising in mechanical systems, workshop manufacturing and experimental set-ups. Premal is in charge of sample production, machine procurement and testing & quality control at Fibe. Prior to Fibe, Premal gained experience with sustainable material startups, developing experimental printing devices at Refrain, a sustainable cosmetic company. At Fibe, he plays a crucial role in developing the mechanical processing step, experiment design and data collection.
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