According to a recent New York Times article, fashion tech start-ups, like the San Diego-based shoe company Feetz, are beginning to successfully harness the power of 3D printing to offer instant, personalized goods at accessible prices.

Thanks to their smart phone app and assembly line of 100 printers, the “digital cobblers” are one of a number of companies using 3D technology to change the way goods are ordered, made, and sold. In addition to cutting down on labor and shipping costs, which allows Feetz to manufacture in the US, the automated processes also eliminate back inventory and waste, enabling the company to make a 50% profit margin on each pair of their $199 shoes.

And 3D printing isn’t the only form of tech helping companies like Feetz to hone their offerings. Algorithms, analytics, and various forms of design-it-yourself software applications are making it easier than ever to target customers with individual precision.

You can read more about the rise of 3D printing in shoe manufacturing at The New York Times.

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