Editor’s note: The following excerpt is adapted from an interview originally published in Authority Magazine.
IAMBIC creates AI-tailored footwear engineered for the way people move. Each pair begins with a simple smartphone scan and comfort profile, then our proprietary Fit Engine analyzes over 20 biometric data points to design a digital last unique to every individual.
Handcrafted in Portugal from full-grain Italian leather, every shoe combines European craftsmanship with advanced biomechanics. Recognized as a TIME Best Invention, IAMBIC merges science, design, and movement into one form—where comfort meets precision.
Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance.
Building Connection Through Slow Fashion
Slow fashion encourages a more intentional relationship with what we wear. Maeve Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of IAMBIC, explains how personalization deepens that connection by making every pair meaningful from the start.
“Slow fashion requires forming a deeper relationship with the products we use. At IAMBIC, for example, we let customers name their shoes. This creates an emotional bond before the shoes even arrive, reinforcing that these shoes aren’t disposable accessories—they’re tools that support us every day.”
Maeve Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, IAMBIC
As slow fashion gains momentum, IAMBIC stands apart by fusing technology and craft to make on-demand, precision-fit shoes. In this excerpt from her conversation with Monica Sanders for Authority Magazine, Maeve Wang discusses sustainability, personalization, and the future of AI-tailored footwear.
Read the full interview at Authority Magazine: “Why They Are Embracing Slow Fashion and Renewable Consumption”.
About Maeve Wang
Maeve T. Wang is the Co-founder and CEO of IAMBIC, a tech-driven footwear company redefining custom-fit design. After personally experiencing years of shoe fit frustration, she founded IAMBIC to bring personalization and engineering precision to the footwear industry. With a background in strategy, corporate development, and consumer technology, she leads a global team combining data science and craft to create shoes that fit you, not a size chart.
About Monica Sanders
Monica Sanders, JD, LL.M., is the founder of The Undivide Project, focused on climate resilience and responsible technology in underserved communities. She teaches at Georgetown Law and Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy and serves on several UN working groups. A former journalist and Emmy recipient, she continues to champion equitable, tech-enabled sustainability initiatives.
Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance.
FAQs
Do I need to take the Fit Guide Quiz before ordering?
No. If you’re ready, go straight to MODEL T and place your order. Not ready to order? Take the Fit Guide Quiz for personalized fit guidance.
How long will it take to receive my pair?
Most orders ship in about 4–6 weeks after your smartphone consultation is uploaded. Track the flow in How Custom-Fit Shoes Work.
What makes IAMBIC different from “wide” sizing?
“Wide” adds width but ignores shape and volume (ball girth, instep height, heel geometry). IAMBIC builds a last from your scan and comfort context, then crafts your pair to that geometry. See IAMBIC 101.
Is my data secure?
Your scan and survey are used to design your fit and to support refits/future pairs. We store them securely and do not sell personal data. Learn more on our Technology page.
Helpful links
- MODEL T
- Fit Guide Quiz (if you’re not ready to order)
- Technology
- IAMBIC 101
- About IAMBIC
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.