Elon Musk and Grimes Order Up Sustainable 3D-Printed Sandals for X Æ A-XII
The sandal is a collaborative effort between Paris-based vegan brand Rombaut and Brooklyn tech startup Zellerfeld.
When you’re worth almost $200 billion like Elon Musk is, you can partake in frivolous activities like ordering custom 3D-printed sneakers for your child. And that’s exactly what Musk and his partner Grimes have done, tapping Paris-based vegan brand Rombaut and Brooklyn tech startup Zellerfeld for a fully custom pint-sized take on Rombaut’s FW21 Drone sandal, crafted just for X Æ A-XII Musk.
Though the order may be whimsical, the shoe’s tech is undeniably serious. Made of 100% recycled polymer and printed on Zellerfeld’s proprietary Monolith 3D printer, it’s is done up in a matte grey shade inspired by Tesla‘s Cybertruck. It also features a sleek upper that rises just above the ankle, and is secured with a strap that boasts X Æ A-XII’s name — which Grimes explained the meaning of in a 2020 tweet — all of which sits atop a chunky two-piece midsole with cut-out detailing under the midfoot.
“Rombaut used 3D printing to prototype and produce a concept in days, not months,” said Zellerfeld CEO Cornelius Schmitt. “It’s closer to software design than shoe design, and it’s exciting to see how rapidly the product evolves as a result.”
“Our brand is vegan and takes sustainability seriously, our collaborations need to have meaning and set a good example on how to make things better,” Rombaut founder Mats Rombaut chimed in.
See Baby Musk’s custom shoes above, and for more footwear news check out the latest installment of HYPEBEAST’s weekly Best Footwear Drops list.
