Editor’s note: The Wall Street Journal covered how new brands are solving fit with customization and AI. IAMBIC was featured for smartphone self-scan and an approach that builds a custom fit from your foot geometry. Read the WSJ feature, then begin below. WSJ article.
Standard sizes miss real feet. Our approach uses your smartphone to capture geometry and comfort preferences, then shapes a last to you. Each pair is custom-fit and refined with feedback from wear.
Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance.
The IAMBIC difference
- Smartphone self-scan. A quick capture in your phone’s browser with clear on-screen steps
- Custom-fit from your geometry. We design from your 3D measurements and comfort profile
- Craftsmanship with data. Full-grain leather sneakers shaped by hand to your measurements
- Learning over time. Wear-pattern feedback informs pair two and beyond
Introducing the MODEL T
MODEL T blends quiet design with fit you can feel late in the day. It was named a TIME Best Invention and built on technology recognized by the NSF SBIR Phase II Award.
Why custom fit matters
- Comfort under load. Alignment that holds through meetings, flights, and hard floors
- Posture and focus. A stable last and tuned cushioning reduce hot spots and heel slip
- Consistency. Pair one feels good; pair two gets even better with your feedback
How to get started
Ready to order? Visit the MODEL T page and place your order. After checkout, we’ll send a link to complete your smartphone Virtual Consultation (foot scan + short comfort profile).
Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance and to learn whether IAMBIC is right for you. You can order whenever you’re ready.
- Complete your smartphone Virtual Consultation. Three photos of each foot on white paper plus a brief comfort profile (in your phone’s browser).
- We review and build. A biomechanical expert reviews your data and we craft your custom-fit pair in Portugal. Most orders ship in 4–6 weeks after your consultation is uploaded.
We reserve a limited number of complimentary introductory consultations each month for people who qualify through the quiz.
About the WSJ feature
Tired of Ill-Fitting Shoes? These Customizable Sneaker Brands Want to Help, The Wall Street Journal, Oct 6, 2023. The article explores smartphone scanning, personalized lasts, and how new brands are addressing returns and comfort with data-driven design.
About the WSJ author
Ashley Mateo is an award-winning journalist and editor who covers health, fitness, and culture. Her work appears in outlets such as TIME, The Wall Street Journal, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, and Men’s Journal. She is an RRCA- and UESCA-certified running coach, the founder and editor-in-chief of RUNHER Magazine, and a Boston University journalism graduate based in Denver.
FAQs
What does “custom-fit” mean compared to standard sizes?
Instead of a size grid, we design from your 3D foot geometry and comfort profile to shape a last to you. This helps address issues like heel slip, narrow heels, wide forefeet, and instep volume.
Will this help with heel slip or pressure points?
That’s the goal. Locking the heel and tuning forefoot volume reduce micro-movement and rubbing. If anything feels off, our Signature Fit Guarantee covers unlimited refits.
How does the process work and how long does it take?
Order the MODEL T, complete your smartphone Virtual Consultation after checkout, and most orders ship in 4–6 weeks once your consultation is uploaded. If you’d like guidance before ordering, take the Fit Guide Quiz first.
Can I do the full process on my smartphone?
Yes. The scan and comfort questions run in your phone’s browser. You need good lighting, a hard floor, and a few sheets of plain white paper.
Is this appropriate for office wear and travel?
Yes. Customers wear the MODEL T with suits and smart casual. It’s built for long days, flights, and hard floors.
How is my data handled?
Your scan and assessment are used to design your fit and support refits and future pairs. We store them securely and never sell personal data.
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.