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ABOUT FUTURE FOOTWEAR FOUNDATION

The Future Footwear Foundation is an NGO that aims to revolutionize footwear production and consumption with shoes that are better for you and the environment. We do this blending artisan expertise, cutting-edge technology, and advanced research into human locomotion.

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Operating since 2013, we have worked at the intersection of three fields: traditional footwear in Indigenous cultures, the biomechanics of feet and walking, and technologies for 3D measuring and printing.

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Five things we want you to know about us :

 

1/ We build on expertise and skills of traditional shoemakers worldwide. We refer to shoemakers as “cobblers”. 

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2/ We use the newest technologies such as 3D-printing where we can, to allow more sustainable shoe production.

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3/ We have our roots in research, and we continuously engage in research on the human feet, the way people walk and run, and ways of shoe production.  Future Footwear Foundation was developed by Catherine Willems as part of her doctoral research at  KASK School of Arts of University College Ghent, Belgium.

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4/ What drives us in our work is our firm disagreement with the way shoes are designed and consumed. We are very value driven, and seek a positive impact on the planet, your body, and the lives of people and communities producing your shoes.

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5/ We connect artisans, academia and private sectors.

Our people

Core points

Future Footwear Foundation is supported by academic, societal, technology, business, and arts grants. 

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We also generate our own income through the sales of footwear. All income generated through these activities is used to support ongoing research in the communities we collaborate with. 

School of Arts, Hogent

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Vivobarefoot, LBF​

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University of Liverpool

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Pupkewitz Foundation

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Rotary Beveren

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People Kalahari fund

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Be the Earth Foundation​​

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Catherine Willems 

Founder 

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Nele Verbruggen 

Strategy support

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Els Roelandt​​​

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Virpi Jääskö

Master Shoemaker/CEO, Taveämmi

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Raf Schoenmaekers

3D2walk

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Adam Rowlatt

PhD biomechanical research

University Liverpool

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Flora Blommaert 

Local manager SAN-DAL

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|AI!ae Fridrick |Kunta

Ju|hoan transcription group

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Devika Krishnan

Lead advisor of GoodEarth Heritage Foundation, India

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Johan Moyersoen

General manager ILI

 

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Manuel da Silva Pinheiro 

3D2walk

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Chiron Floris

Operational assistant

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Andreas Muronga

Production lead San-dal

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Kris D'Août

Biomechanist, EMB group, University Liverpool

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Raghu Kerayil

Manager Indie Craft International​​

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Anca UÈ™urelu

Communication support

 

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Omar Elnaggar

Post doctoral researcher UKRI

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Bhavya Acharya

Industrial Product designer at Howest - Internship at FFF 2024/2025

Our partners

Donors

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