Vivobarefoot launches custom-fit 3D printed Tabi Gen 02 sandals using Carbon DLS

Vivobarefoot has launched the Tabi Gen 02, the second generation of its custom-fit 3D printed sandal, moving from SLS to Carbon's Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) process. The made-to-order sandals are produced in cooperation with OECHSLER using CARBON BL6 PU foam, and are available exclusively through the VivoBiome scan-to-print platform. Customers must visit one of three Vivobarefoot locations in London, Bristol, or Prague for a Volumental 3D foot scan before ordering. The sandals are priced at £110 in a single moonrock grey colorway, a reduction from the Gen 01's £140 price point.

This product update is significant for the consumer-electronics and footwear vertical because it demonstrates a deliberate technology migration from SLS to Carbon's DLS, a shift that prioritizes material properties and production speed over the geometric freedom of powder-based processes. The move mirrors adidas' established use of Carbon DLS for its 4DFWD midsole production, confirming that DLS is becoming the de facto process for high-volume, custom-fit footwear. Vivobarefoot's decision to reduce the price while improving weight and precision suggests the company is iterating toward a scalable mass-customization model, though the geographic restriction to three scanning locations keeps the product in a pilot phase. The use of CARBON BL6 PU foam, a proprietary elastomer, also signals a tighter integration between material supplier and brand, a pattern that typically increases switching costs and deepens the IP lock-in grind for competitors.

From a practical standpoint, Vivobarefoot's Gen 02 is a measured step forward rather than a breakthrough. The company has not disclosed production volumes or unit economics, so the key question remains whether the scanning-to-print workflow can expand beyond a handful of flagship stores without significant capital investment in retail infrastructure. For now, the product serves as a proof of concept for bespoke footwear at a sub-£150 price point, but scaling will require either a mobile scanning solution or a partnership with a larger retail chain. The footwear industry will watch whether Vivobarefoot can maintain the quality and fit consistency that justifies the premium over off-the-shelf barefoot sandals.