Introducing EXOSKYN
Introducing EXOSKYN, the first 3D-printed sneaker from the emerging French label KORUX, led by designer Mahdi Naïm. Developed in Lyon and conceived as a hybrid of fashion, anatomy, and technology, EXOSKYN does not just push the boundaries of design; it redefines them entirely.
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Inspired by the Human Body
EXOSKYN is not just a name, it is a philosophy. The sneaker draws directly from the organic structure of the human foot, mimicking the complex architectural lines of bones and tendons. Rather than covering the foot, EXOSKYN appears to grow from it, like a second skin or external skeleton. Its form is fluid and sculptural, with dynamic ribbing and continuous contours that evoke movement and connectivity.
This is footwear as body architecture, where fashion does not follow function but fuses with it. It is both biomimetic and biomechanical, nodding to evolution while remaining rooted in technological advancement.
Tech at Its Core: 3D Printed in One Piece
Behind EXOSKYN’s visual poetry lies technical mastery. Using advanced 3D printing technology, the sneaker is printed in a single seamless piece, removing the need for traditional manufacturing steps such as stitching, gluing, or layering. This results in a sneaker that is lightweight, durable, and uniquely ergonomic.
The materials used are flexible and designed to provide support and comfort, adapting to the wearer’s movement like a living form. This is not just a prototype or concept, it is a fully wearable piece of design innovation.
Moreover, the 3D-printed construction allows for total creative freedom in both form and function. Every line, ridge, and void is intentional. Nothing is arbitrary.
Print Step: A Vision for the Future of Fashion
EXOSKYN is part of the Print Step collection by KORUX, a conceptual series of products designed to challenge conventional ideas of production, aesthetics, and purpose. By focusing on made-to-order manufacturing, Print Step reduces waste and embraces a post-industrial vision of creation where design is customised rather than mass-produced.
In a world overwhelmed by overproduction and fast fashion, EXOSKYN represents an alternative. It is a manifesto for thoughtful design, limited production, and emotional connection to the object.
It invites wearers to consider not just how something looks or feels, but why it exists and what it means to wear something born from digital code and human anatomy.
More Than Footwear: A Manifesto in Motion
EXOSKYN is, above all, a cultural statement. It questions the way we think about the objects we wear daily, especially something as standardised as the sneaker.
Sneakers have long been symbols of subculture, athleticism, fashion, and rebellion. EXOSKYN honours that lineage but proposes a bold future where sneakers are no longer bound by industrial moulds or aesthetic traditions, but reimagined as expressive, sculptural extensions of the self.
This approach opens doors not only for designers but also for wearers, giving them an active role in the dialogue between body, object, and technology.
The excitement surrounding EXOSKYN suggests that the future of footwear may not be stitched together in factories, but instead printed, coded, and imagined in creative studios and digital labs.
KORUX and Mahdi Naïm are clearly signalling a new direction for fashion and design, one that is local, intentional, and deeply conceptual. In that world, EXOSKYN is not just a shoe, it is a prototype of the post-industrial imagination.
Behind the Design: A Conversation with Mahdi Naïm
To better understand the depth and intention behind EXOSKYN, we spoke directly with its creator, Mahdi Naïm. In this interview, he shares insights into the conceptual process, technical innovation, and cultural perspective that shaped the project. His words reveal how EXOSKYN evolved from an idea into a wearable work of design and a statement of vision.
Concept and Design Origins
Q: What was the initial spark or idea behind EXOSKYN?
A: The initial spark came from my fascination with the human body and how technology can enhance it without overpowering it. I wanted to create a sneaker that acts as an interface between body, code, and material, opening an alternative path in sneaker design by balancing experimentation and targeted industrialisation. This project emerged from questioning established methodologies in design, pushing boundaries to foster innovation and respond to contemporary challenges such as sustainability.
Q: Why did you choose the human foot’s skeletal structure as your primary design inspiration?
A: The skeletal structure of the foot provides a perfect model of organic efficiency, strong yet flexible, connected and adaptive. By mimicking the interplay of bones and tendons through a lattice-like architecture, EXOSKYN becomes an extension of the body itself, evoking movement and connectivity while rooting the design in biomimicry.
Q: How do you balance the boundary between artistic sculpture and functionality?
A: I balance it by ensuring that every sculptural element serves a functional role. The dynamic ribbing and contours are not arbitrary; they reduce friction, optimise comfort, and support natural movement. This approach draws from a systemic methodology where form and function fuse, turning the sneaker into both an artistic statement and a practical, ergonomic object.
Technology and Production
Q: Can you walk us through the technical process of creating EXOSKYN?
A: The process begins with algorithmic and generative design to explore the bio-inspired structure of the human foot. We then use advanced 3D printing to produce it as a flexible monoblock in one seamless piece, without stitching, gluing, or assembly. This on-demand method ensures precision and minimises waste.
Q: Why was 3D printing the right medium for this project?
A: 3D printing enables total creative freedom, allowing us to create complex, adaptive forms that traditional manufacturing cannot achieve. It supports rapid prototyping, intricate detailing, and sustainable on-demand production, aligning perfectly with our vision of reducing waste and embracing digital craftsmanship.
Q: What materials are used, and how did you test for comfort and wearability?
A: We use a combination of flexible, durable engineered materials, including recycled, biodegradable, and upcycled textile fibres for the sole and base. Testing involved creating prototypes and evaluating them in real-world scenarios to ensure they adapt to movement, provide support, and minimise discomfort, balancing flexibility with robustness.
Philosophy and Cultural Context
Q: How do you see this design challenging or expanding the traditional sneaker market?
A: EXOSKYN challenges the market by rejecting mass production, visible branding, and conventional aesthetics, while expanding it through bio-inspired, technology-driven designs that prioritise personalisation and sustainability. It reimagines sneakers as sculptural extensions of the self, fostering a dialogue between body, object, and innovation.
Q: Is there a political or ecological message embedded in this project?
A: Absolutely, it is a manifesto against overproduction and fast fashion. By embracing made-to-order manufacturing and eco-conscious materials, EXOSKYN promotes an ecological message of sustainability and mindful consumption, addressing the environmental crisis through thoughtful, limited-edition design.
Collection and Future Visio
Q: How does EXOSKYN fit into the broader Print Step collection?
A: EXOSKYN is a cornerstone of the Print Step collection, which challenges conventional production, aesthetics, and purpose. It embodies our vision of post-industrial creation, where designs are customised, waste is minimised, and each piece fosters an emotional connection through digital code and human anatomy.
Q: Do you see this as a one-time experimental piece or the beginning of a larger design movement?
A: This is the beginning of a larger movement towards post-industrial, bio-inspired fashion. By pushing methodological limits and integrating technologies such as AI and biomimicry, EXOSKYN signals a shift in design that encourages diversity, innovation, and cultural relevance.
Q: Would you ever consider offering custom versions of EXOSKYN, personalised to each user?
A: Yes, personalisation is at the heart of our philosophy. On-demand production allows us to tailor EXOSKYN to individual users, incorporating foot scans or preferences for a truly bespoke experience that enhances inclusivity and user-centred design.
Personal and Creative Process
Q: What do you want people to feel when they see or wear EXOSKYN?
A: I want them to feel empowered and connected, to their body, to innovation, and to a sustainable future. Wearing EXOSKYN should evoke a sense of harmony between the organic and the artificial, inspiring curiosity about the possibilities of design.
Q: Who or what inspires your creative process in both fashion and technology?
A: My process is inspired by nature’s efficiency, philosophical thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle for balancing the sensible and intelligible, and emerging technologies, including AI, biomimicry, and 3D printing. Cultural diversity, stemming from my Moroccan and French roots, also fuels my interdisciplinary approach.
The conversation with Mahdi Naïm reveals more than the process behind a single project, it uncovers a designer’s enduring commitment to rethinking the boundaries of fashion and technology. EXOSKYN stands not only as a symbol of innovation but as a reflection of Naïm’s broader philosophy, where every creation serves as both exploration and statement. His consistent pursuit of ideas that merge code, anatomy, and form shows a dedication to progress that feels both intellectual and emotional. Through EXOSKYN, and the vision that drives it, Naïm reminds us that the future of design is not simply about what we make, but how we imagine, question, and evolve.
