New Balance Pushes Ahead in Design Race to Bring 3-D Printed Shoes to Consumers

In an attempt to appeal to design-conscious consumers, major athletic shoe brands like Nike and Adidas have been investing heavily in 3-D printing. Now, New Balance is aiming to beat both to the finish line. Yesterday, the company announced a new running shoe model that incorporates a 3-D printed midsole. The shoe will be available in April in Boston as a limited-edition collection, with the release timed to coincide with the Boston Marathon. New Balance will sell "a couple hundred" of them in 2016 and intends to expand their retail operations to more global metropolitan locations thereafter.