DISTRIBUTED MANUFACTURING VIA DIGITAL FABRICATION: A STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL PRODUCTION OF FO- OTWEAR COMPONENTS

This research raises questions regarding a systemic change in the current footwear production and consumption model, through the use of strategies oriented towards Distributed Manufacturing and Digital Fabrication of shoes components. It aims to validate such strategies for a sustainable local production, providing small companies of the sector more autonomy and involvement in the processes, towards a more distributed and hybrid (digital and artisanal) manufacturing process. It emphasizes the development of Distributed Economy solutions through the creation of value for actors in small local businesses in the sector. Through a single case study with a participatory observation, the process of redesigning a shoe was conducted in 4 main phases with a small local company in the sector in partnership with a makerspace. The project was carried out with the support of design tools to develop solutions, and as a result, a prototype of a shoe was obtained, made in collaboration between the actors, showing that the local-global capacity of the Distributed Manufacturing via Digital Fabrication strategy has the potential to provide sustainable alternatives to the complex global supply chains for footwear and a possible solution to the excessive consumption of resources in this sector.