Editor’s Note: This article draws on TIME Magazine’s recognition of the IAMBIC MODEL T as one of the Best Inventions of the Year. It explores the precision-fit process and how AI-driven personalization is redefining footwear comfort for executives and performance professionals.
Custom-fit shoes built to the millimeter from advanced smartphone scanning, AI, and biomechanics. Designed in New York City. Crafted in Portugal. Your foundation is the MODEL T. From there, the Precision Fit Program learns from your wear so each new pair refines comfort, posture support, and all-day focus. You are covered by our Signature Fit Guarantee with unlimited refits.
Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance and to learn if IAMBIC is right for you.
What this recognition highlights
- AI-tailored last built from your photos and comfort questionnaire
- Sizeless fit beyond standard size grids
- Handmade leather construction shaped to your data
- Learning loop using Sole Print wear photos for pair two and beyond
- Over 50,000 foot scans processed
- 98% scan-to-last geometry match
- Backed by the U.S. National Science Foundation
How the custom-fit process works
Step 1: Order your MODEL T.
Step 2: After checkout, we send a link to the Virtual Consultation. Take three images of each foot while standing on four sheets of printer paper and answer a short comfort survey. Our platform builds your comfort profile across more than twenty biometric variables, including Sole Print wear-pattern signals.
Step 3: We craft and ship. A biomechanical engineer reviews your fit, and your design runs through our AI models before going to our craft partners in Portugal. Italian full-grain leather is cut and assembled to your geometry. Most orders ship in about 4 to 6 weeks. If anything feels off, we adjust with unlimited refits through the Signature Fit Guarantee.
Want the full walkthrough? Read How custom-fit shoes work and the Virtual Consultation Guide. Learn how each next pair evolves on the Precision Fit Program page.
Tech note: Our pipeline blends NASA-grade scanning with AI and engineering review, then learns from wear data.
In their words
“A shoe that may feel comfortable for a half-hour walk is not always comfortable for a three-hour walk. What I like about IAMBIC is that, even though the snug fit is there, it also feels substantial enough that I can walk a lot without discomfort. That’s something especially important to me, and I think the shoe really delivers that.”
David B. – Read the full testimonial
Why this matters for executives
- Comfort that holds through long meetings and travel days
- Posture support and alignment over distance
- A fit relationship that improves with wear
About the TIME Magazine Author
Ashley Mateo is an award-winning journalist and editor covering health, fitness, and culture. Her work appears in TIME, The Wall Street Journal, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, and Men’s Journal. She is an RRCA and UESCA certified running coach, founder of RUNHER Magazine, and a Boston University journalism graduate based in Denver.
FAQs
How do I start if I am new to IAMBIC?
Visit the MODEL T page and place your order, then complete the smartphone Virtual Consultation after checkout. If you want to learn more first, take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance.
Can I do everything on my smartphone?
Yes. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes in a well-lit space. You will need a phone and four sheets of printer paper. Use Chrome or Safari.
How long does it take to receive my pair?
Most orders ship in about 4 to 6 weeks after your Virtual Consultation.
How do future pairs get better?
Your feedback and Sole Print wear photos guide refinements to geometry, cushioning, and structure through the Precision Fit Program.
How is my data handled?
Your scan and assessment are used to design your fit and future refits. 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 had never even noticed that my shoes didn't fit right. My other shoes don't hurt me - they just slosh around. With these, the heels actually stay on the whole time and it fits snugly yet still comfortably. 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 walk down the street, get on the subway, do my commute, bring my kids to school, and not feel concerned 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 that I had been feeling with the shoes that I previously came in wearing were completely gone. I was wearing 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.
I deal with chronic foot pain, and a lot of it comes from shoes that do not really fit. When I wear my IAMBICs, I notice less pain and they are incredibly comfortable. I do not worry about support, and I even get compliments on them when I am out, which feels great.
A lot of shoes feel fine for a short walk but not for hours. What I like about IAMBIC is that it feels snug and comfortable, yet substantial enough for long walks without discomfort. That matters to me, and the shoe has really delivered on that.
The first time I tried my IAMBICs, I noticed the difference right away. I have small feet, so most shoes either do not fit or are uncomfortable somewhere. Knowing these were tailored to my foot was meaningful. They are truly comfortable and still versatile in style, which is rare to find.
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.
In motorsport, a millimeter matters. My IAMBICs are built with that same precision, and you can feel it when you move. They remind me of the exactness you find in high-performance machines, translated into footwear.
With IAMBIC, I can be on my feet through long shoots without that usual end-of-day fatigue. I do not worry about burning out or feeling drained like I used to. They help me get through overtime and long days without thinking about pain.
They move with me and quickly became part of my day. I do not wear them only for style, I wear them because they make me feel good. The comfort and support are what keep me reaching for them.
With most shoes I am always wishing I had chosen something else. With IAMBIC, I don’t think about switching. I want everything else to feel the way these do, because they are the pair I reach for every day.
When I wear my IAMBICs, I barely notice them, and I think that says everything. The difference shows up when I switch to other high-end sneakers and immediately feel the discomfort. They fit my feet so well that comfort just feels natural.