3D-Printed Shoes: STARAY and JO SYSTEM Combine Technology with Italian Design

The Italian footwear market is undergoing a profound transformation. Traditional craftsmanship is increasingly merging with digital production methods, particularly 3D printing. The Chinese company STARAY, in collaboration with JO SYSTEM SRL, has established a joint research and development center. The goal of the “STARAY & JO SYSTEM Joint Design and Production Center” is to bring technology and design closer together and advance the footwear industry toward more sustainable manufacturing.

Founded in 2020, STARAY is considered one of the first companies to produce fully 3D-printed shoes. The models are created in a single printing process using flexible, lightweight, and breathable materials. By eliminating seams and separate components, the shoes are easier to clean and recycle. The production process is largely automated, reducing both material use and waste. In addition to everyday models for leisure and sports, the company aims for mass production to reach a broader consumer market.

The joint development center with JO SYSTEM is designed to merge Italian design expertise with additive manufacturing technology. While Italian shoemaking has traditionally focused on aesthetics and craftsmanship, STARAY contributes data-driven production methods and advanced material technologies.

The collaboration exemplifies the footwear industry’s shift toward digital and resource-efficient manufacturing. 3D printing enables customized designs, shorter supply chains, and nearly waste-free production. By combining Italian design language with precise additive manufacturing, a new category of footwear is emerging—one that unites function, comfort, and sustainability in a single product. This approach could fundamentally reshape the traditional understanding of shoe design in the long term.