Bionic Functional Footwear jointly developed by HKRITA and PolyU wins Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days medal

"Bionic Functional Footwear for Pregnant Women", jointly developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and PolyU, is one of the silver medal winning entries at this year's Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days.

Weight gain and relaxin hormone increases during pregnancy can lead to swollen feet and arch drop for pregnant women. This project has developed bionic functional footwear which can adapt to foot dimensional variations, enhance arch support and reduce peak plantar pressure, thus relieving foot pain and improving foot health. 

Inspired by terrestrial animal and human foot structures, technologies of 3D hybrid knitting-printing-moulding materials and biometric ergonomic design are used to develop the bionic functional shoes. Apart from pregnant women, the footwear is also suitable for flat feet sufferers.

Dr Liu Rong, Assistant Professor of Institute of Textile and Clothing, said the project was already completed. The team intends to contact local manufacturers for production, and wishes the products can be launched onto the market as soon as possible.