Most shoes are still designed around a two-dimensional sizing system that fails to account for how feet move and change. This limits comfort, posture, and performance.
IAMBIC uses a data-driven approach to design. Each pair begins with a 3-image smartphone scan and a short comfort profile, creating a digital last unique to you. The result is a fit measured in millimeters and finished by European artisans for lasting comfort.
Recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of the Year and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Not ready to purchase? Begin with the Fit Guide Quiz to discover your personalized fit profile.
The complexity of the human foot
The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Together, they absorb up to three times our body weight with each step, balancing strength and flexibility to support movement.
Feet are not static. They shift over time because of aging, weight changes, and daily impact. Ligaments loosen, arches adjust, and widths expand, making fixed shoe sizing less reliable.
Even population-wide, average foot dimensions have changed. The typical U.S. shoe size has grown nearly an inch since the 1970s, yet manufacturing still relies on outdated frameworks.
Shoe lasts and the fit crisis
Shoemaking begins with a “last,” the three-dimensional mold that defines shape. Once customized by artisans, most lasts are now simplified for mass production. As brands globalized, multiple width options were eliminated to improve efficiency.
By the 1970s, most companies had reduced sizing to one width per length. That shift improved production speed but reduced accuracy. Today, almost all shoes sold in the United States are imported and built from generic molds that fail to reflect real human variation.
The result is a global fit gap. Consumers experience discomfort while brands lose data that could drive healthier, more sustainable design.
Why current fit standards fall short
Most sizing systems are based on the shoe last, not the foot. Allowances for materials, toe shape, and padding differ between brands, which means the same numerical size rarely fits consistently.
In the 1970s, SATRA introduced the Mondopoint system, which measured feet directly instead of shoe molds. It was a valuable step toward data-led design but lacked widespread adoption.
Today, a new standard is possible through technology. Smartphone scanning, AI modeling, and digital last generation make true one-to-one design achievable.
Toward a future of better fit
The footwear industry’s dependence on outdated sizing affects comfort, health, and sustainability. As Natacha Alpert, a leader in 3D footwear design, explains, “We are entering an era where fit, customization, and comfort are not optional, they are expected.”
At IAMBIC, this belief guides everything we build. Each pair begins with a digital scan modeling more than twenty biometric variables per foot. The result is footwear crafted for balance, endurance, and movement instead of mass production.
Exploring your options? Take the Fit Guide Quiz to see how your data becomes your precision fit.
FAQs
How is IAMBIC different from “wide” sizing?
Wide sizing adds surface width but ignores depth and volume. IAMBIC captures your full geometry with 3D scanning, accounting for ball girth, arch height, and heel shape before crafting your pair.
Do I need to take the Fit Guide Quiz before ordering?
No. You can order directly from the MODEL T page. If you prefer a guided start, take the Fit Guide Quiz for a personalized introduction.
How long does it take?
Most pairs ship within 4 to 6 weeks after your virtual consultation. Read How Custom-Fit Shoes Work for details.
What benefits should I expect on long days?
Better posture, reduced strain, and consistent comfort during long days, travel, and meetings. Learn more in Walking and Executive Performance.
Is my data secure?
Yes. Your scan and comfort data are encrypted and used only for design and fit improvement. Visit our Technology page for details.
Helpful links
Sources
- Buldt, Andrew, and Hylton Menz. “Incorrectly fitted footwear, foot pain and foot disorders.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 11:43 (2018).
- Goonetilleke, Ravindra S. The Science of Footwear. CRC Press, 2013.
- Saltzman, Charles L., and Deborah A. Nawoczenski. “Complexities of Foot Architecture as a Base of Support.” JOSPT, 1995.
- Harvard Health Publishing. “Why your feet get bigger as you age.” 2018.
- Cleveland Clinic. “Shoes Getting Tight? Why Your Feet Change Size Over Time.” 2020.
- Holmes, Elizabeth. “Feet Are Getting Bigger.” The Wall Street Journal, 2014.
- Bayes, Tom. “New SATRA fitting aids.” SATRA Bulletin, 2020.
- Alpert, Natacha. Interview by Frank Mojica, 2021.
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.