Named a TIME Best Invention, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, and developed with Dr. Hylton Menz.
Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance and to learn if IAMBIC is right for you.
Meet Luke A.
Luke Asper is a cinematographer and entrepreneur known for precision automotive films across Formula 1 environments and Porsche track work. He plans shots that demand exact camera placement, steady footwork, and long hours on set. His projects have earned recognition at the Motor Film Awards.
We spoke with Luke about his IAMBIC experience, how a snug first fit settled into all-day comfort, and why precision fit now sits beside camera bodies, lenses, and Sole Print™ in his kit.
From long shoot days to steady comfort with custom-fit shoes
On set, small slips turn into lost energy. Luke needed polished footwear that could handle rigs, low angle rollers, and travel. A made to fit pair stopped heel movement, reduced hotspots, and kept his focus on the frame, not his feet. Explore the MODEL T.
Why precision fit matters for creative performance
Feet are complex. Left and right can differ. Heat, workload, and time of day change volume and shape. A precise fit reduces micro-movement so attention stays on the work in front of you.
- Locked heel: Less sliding when crouching and panning.
- Lower fatigue: Comfort that lasts during long takes and travel days.
- Fewer hotspots: Reduced rubbing during repetitive setups.
- Consistency: Fit that improves on reorders through Sole Print™ wear data.
Read more: TIME Best Invention and NSF SBIR Phase II.
How personalization supports precision work on set
Mass sizing is a compromise. Two people with the same size can have different ball girths, instep volumes, arch heights, and heel shapes. Sliding and rubbing follow.
The IAMBIC method pairs a guided smartphone scan with a comfort survey. We model key biometric variables, create your last, and learn from wear over time. Sole Print™ records your outsole wear pattern, then a learning loop guides refinements for the next pair.
Prefer a guided setup? A biomechanics specialist can support your scan by video. Learn more in IAMBIC 101 and How custom-fit shoes work.
Q&A with Luke
How do IAMBIC shoes fit into your world?
I’m a cinematographer and photographer, and I specialize in automotive. That’s the world I live and breathe and what I’m passionate about. So my line of work is very demanding. I have to be super intentional of what I can and can’t wear on set, not only for the appearance on set, but function. I’m on set a lot doing video production or photo shoots. I need something that will last where my feet will not be hurting if I’m standing for 12 hours running around or standing still next to a tripod. My heels usually will end up hurting in every shoe I’ve ever owned.
I can’t wear many luxury things because they’ll break or get ruined. Being able to have these IAMBIC shoes be as luxury as they are that still hold up against the test of time and still be functional is a dream. And I wish there was more stuff like that.
Describe the first moment you felt the precision fit.
So when I first put on my IAMBIC shoes, I was expecting it to be a lot more soft and like a pillow. And then it was leather that was really snug on my feet. First thing I’m thinking is, “Man, I have to stand for 8 to 10 hours. Is this going to help me or affect me?”
The first moment I realized how comfortable they were was when I had to go back to other shoes. For working out, I didn’t want to ruin my IAMBICs, so I put on my workout shoes I’d worn for a while. They were looser. My feet moved around more. I could feel the imbalances I have from an accident. One foot walks a little sideways, and I noticed it much more when I went back to older shoes I thought were “fit” to me. My old shoes felt “uncomfortably comfortable.” They fit because I’d worn them in, but they slid around, and I felt things in my heels I hadn’t noticed until I’d experienced my IAMBICs.
It wasn’t even a long time, maybe a day or two in IAMBIC shoes. That was the aha moment: I missed my IAMBIC shoes. I hadn’t felt any discomfort in my heels since I started wearing them. That was when I realized the IAMBICs were doing their job.
How has precision fit changed your day-to-day performance?
So the performance fit of these shoes, it’s a set-and-forget. If a day goes 10 to 12 hours, the last thing you want to be is uncomfortable. You’re already carrying heavy gear. I want to stand up and do the job that I need to do without feeling burnout or exhausted at the end of the day.
Now, I don’t worry about what to wear. I’m up at 3 a.m. or 8 a.m. I lay out my clothes and always choose these shoes. They help me last on set without hurting. With other shoes, I’d take them off at the end of the day just to feel relief. With IAMBICs, I don’t feel that. I haven’t had to think about being on my feet. These help me avoid the fatigue and pain I used to feel from being on my feet so long.
What stood out about the technology behind your fit?
So during the process of scanning your feet, you don’t have to go anywhere. I didn’t have to get my feet measured. I thought it would be more difficult, but the process was extremely easy. It’s literally just photos from your phone, all step-by-step guides on a website, and it almost seemed too good to be true.
But once you get them, it’s spot on. Custom to my foot. My foot isn’t moving anywhere. It’s crazy that a device you have 24/7 helps you get custom-tailored shoes from the comfort of your home. It’s definitely accurate.
What excites you about Sole Print and shoes that evolve with wear?
The Sole Print becomes data for the next pair. That blew my mind. On track, after hot laps, you see heat and rubber on the tires. You can read the history in that surface. My IAMBIC shoes pick up their own “history” in a useful way. The longer I wear them, the better the next pair gets. Wear them daily. Feed the system. That’s how I think about it.
Every time I’m on a track I’m wearing my shoes. This is where they belong. They just feel like they were born to be there and they love being there and I love taking them there. I’ll be wearing these shoes for so long and being able to update them. I just can set it and forget it and just know I can rely on them. I now can do that all day, every day. These are the most comfortable shoes I’ll ever have.
Prefer to explore first? Take the Fit Guide Quiz to see how IAMBIC aligns with your lifestyle.
FAQs
How does the process work for my first pair?
Step 1: Order your MODEL T.
Step 2: Complete a quick smartphone Virtual Consultation via the link we send after checkout. Take three photos of each foot while standing on printer paper and answer a short comfort profile.
Step 3: We craft and ship from Portugal in about 4 to 6 weeks.
Can a biomechanics specialist guide my scan on a video call?
Yes. If you prefer live support, a specialist can guide your scan and review your plan.
What if something feels off?
Tell us. Your plan includes fit preferences, and the Signature Fit Guarantee covers unlimited refits.
Are these appropriate for professional sets and client meetings?
Yes. Customers wear IAMBIC with suits, dresses, and smart casual looks. Choose materials and finishes that fit your setting.
How long does it take to receive my pair?
Most orders ship in about 4 to 6 weeks after you upload your consultation.
The most interesting thing about them being crafted just for me is how well they fit. And I hadnever even noticed that my shoes didn't fit right. My other shoes don't hurt me - they just slosharound. With these, the heels actually stay on the whole time and it fits snugly yet stillcomfortably. And I'd never experienced that before. They just stay comfortable all day.
As a runner, as an athlete, just knowing that I'm doing a good service to my body is incredible.It’s the reason that I love my IAMBIC shoes. It's that precision that makes me feel safe to walkdown the street, get on the subway, do my commute, bring my kids to school, and not feelconcerned that I'm doing it in a shoe that doesn't fit right or that doesn't feel good.
The thing that I was surprised by the most with the precision fit is that any pressure points thatI had been feeling with the shoes that I previously came in wearing were completely gone. I waswearing a shoe that wasn't too tight. It wasn't too loose. The sole fit just right. Total comfort.That's the best way to put it.
So I suffer from chronic foot pain and I believe that a lot of that has to do with wearing shoesthat actually don't fit. Whenever I wear my IAMBICs, I've noticed that I have felt less pain,which is really incredible. And they're just so comfortable. I'm not worried about the back of my heel popping out or my ankles not having enough support. Also, they're just so stylish andevery timeI wear them out in the street, I always get compliments, which never happens to me.
A shoe that may feel comfortable for a half hour walk is not a shoe that always feels comfortablefor a three and a half hour walk. So what I like about IAMBIC is, even though the snug fit isthere and it feels comfortable, it also feels substantial enough that I can walk a lot withoutgetting any discomfort. That's just something that's especially important to me and I think theshoe has really delivered that.
The first moment that I tried on my IAMBIC shoes, I noticed a difference. I have small feet. So whenever I try on shoes, I usually expect them to not fit. If they do fit, there's usually some sort of discomfort, whether that's in the toe box or too much space or at the heel. So knowing that this shoe was tailored to my foot was really meaningful. It's rare that you find a shoe like IAMBIC that truly is comfortable, but also hits the markers of style versatility.
I think we're all placed on this earth as unique individuals. None of us are really off the rack in terms of sizing. So for me to have that experience of having something made specifically for me that fit perfectly was something that was a little bit mind blowing. And once I got the shoes, I tried them on, they looked great, they felt great. And honestly, they fit like a glove.