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​​
Catherine Willems
Founder
Nele Verbruggen
Strategy support
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Els Roelandt​​​
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Virpi Jääskö
Master Shoemaker/CEO, Taveämmi
Raf Schoenmaekers
3D2walk
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Flora Blommaert
Local manager SAN-DAL
|AI!ae Fridrick |Kunta
Ju|hoan transcription group
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Devika Krishnan
Lead advisor of GoodEarth Heritage Foundation, India
Johan Moyersoen
General manager ILI
Manuel da Silva Pinheiro
3D2walk
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Chiron Floris
Operational assistant
Andreas Muronga
Production lead San-dal
Kris D'Août
Biomechanist, EMB group, University Liverpool
Raghu Kerayil
Manager Indie Craft International​​
Anca Ușurelu
Communication support
Omar Elnaggar
Post doctoral researcher UKRI
Bhavya Acharya
Industrial Product designer at Howest - Internship at FFF 2024/2025