FAIRMONT RUNNER V2
I was satisfied with my results from the first sample, but knew I could develop it further. I made a list of all the changes I planned on making, and this ranged from different construction methods to pattern alterations to quality reminders. I also wanted to try my hand and making my own sole, but more on that later.
With these changes in mind I set about updating the pattern. I added some new accent panels, and added a slight variation between lateral and medial sides. Again, I wanted to use materials I had off hand, so not much thought was given to colorway, though I at least wanted to make it a cohesive design. The biggest material change I made was adding a backing material to the white ripstop, which will give the shoes the reinforcement that was lacking in the first pair. Look to the tech pack below to see a detailed list of materials.
Upper construction remained relatively the same, with the added stabilizer and full length lining being the only substantial changes. As you can see, these changes allowed for a much more robust snd structured shoe, while still remaining relatively lightweight.
Sourcing components is very difficult since I am buying in low quantities, and this is especially true when it comes to outsoles. I wanted to make a custom outsole for this pair, where I could control all the design details. I started in Autodesk Inventor and created a basic mold that I then split into 11 smaller pieces that would fit on the 3D printer bed. I then joined the pieces together to get the full mold.
I decided to use Smooth-On's Reoflex 60 urethane since it exhibited properties that were most similar to a vulcanized rubber, yet didn't need any special equipment to make. It is a two part, air curing urethane. Once I had the precise volume calculated, I mixed and poured the urethane. After 16 hours, I had myself an outsole sheet, and after some trimming based on my outsole pattern, I had an outsole ready to glue!
The finished product is a clear improvement from the first sample, with the outsole and upper combining to make a shoe that is much closer to a production pair. I will revisit this design in the future and design some new colourways.