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BioPods Stimsole Sneakers

Created by BioPods Team

Transform your shoe-wearing experience with BioPods®! Customized: for perfect fit & superior comfort

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Fri Nov 18 '22 Announcement
over 1 year ago – Fri, Nov 18, 2022 at 08:53:49 AM

Hello Backers,
 
To follow up on our Nov 2nd update, we received several pairs of sample sneakers made with the new adhesives. After testing, the upper patterns required minor adjustments for fit to reflect the 4-way stretch variation from our prototypes. 
 
After making the pattern adjustments, the factory couriered several sample pairs of sneakers on Nov 8th. These sneakers met our fit requirements. Ultimately the adjusted patterns required that we increase each shoe length's width and volume sizing from 9 combinations to 15. As a result, we needed to modify your Custom Size Codes accordingly. We provided these to the factory last week, and they restarted production.
 
The factory has made 250 pairs of sneakers and will complete an additional 50 pairs by Monday (Nov 21st). These 300 pairs will be shipped to Canada from Mexico on Tuesday (Nov 22nd). We will send the sneakers to you as soon as we receive them. These 300 pairs make up about 50% of the sneakers for our Kickstarter Backers. The remaining 50% of the Kickstarter-related sneakers will be made next week and shipped to us on Nov 28th. These will be sent to our Backers as soon as we receive them.
 
We sincerely apologize for the delays. We are confident that you will find the sneakers worth the wait. 
 
Thank you for your patience and support.

Wed Nov 2 '22 Announcement
over 1 year ago – Wed, Nov 02, 2022 at 11:19:46 AM

Hello Backers,

Our apologies for not updating you sooner, but with the first shipment of sneakers we found a fitment issue that was more challenging to resolve than initially thought. Before posting this update, we wanted to determine the cause and find a solution.

The problem-solving process took longer because our CAD designer got a severe case of COVID. Despite being quadruple vaccinated, he was out of commission for a couple of weeks. During the problem-solving process, we had the factory stop all production, and we stopped shipping the shoes to our Backers.

Fortunately, we have determined the cause of the fitment issue and have found a solution, as noted below.

From a healthy function standpoint, our sneakers’ uppers have a predefined amount of 4-way stretch in the forefoot to ensure proper fit and function, whether the sneakers are worn barefoot or with socks. The sneaker uppers are made by laser cutting the upper materials using a pattern based on the Custom Size Codes. The factory then bonds the 4-way stretch knitted outer with the 4-way stretch lining using a flexible adhesive.

During the shoe development phase, once bonded, we measured the stretchiness of each upper size and factored it into the Custom Size Code algorithm.  

To achieve a perfect fit, we use your Custom Size Code’s Forefoot Volume measurement to select a correct upper pattern size relative to the amount of material stretch. During two years of prototype testing, the stretchiness remained consistent, and the shoes fit and functioned as designed.

When we received the first two sneaker shipments, we found that the shoes weren’t fitting and functioning correctly due to a lack of stretch in the upper. Initially, we didn’t understand why since the upper materials and adhesive were the same as those used in the prototypes.

After digging deeper, we learned that the factory had changed the adhesive used to affix the uppers to the soles to improve the bonding strength. While we were aware that they were doing this, we were unaware that the new adhesive required a higher activation temperature. Unbeknownst to the factory and us, this higher temperature caused the adhesive that bonded the upper materials to crystalize, significantly restricting the upper’s stretchiness and affecting the fit and function.

To resolve the issue, the factory had to source and test several adhesives before finding one that remained flexible with the higher temperatures. We then needed to measure the stretchiness of the newly bonded upper materials and adjust the upper pattern sizing accordingly. The factory has made several pairs of sneakers in different sizes with the new adhesives, adjusted upper sizing, and couriered them to us today (Nov 2nd). We expect to receive them shortly. The factory will immediately restart production if these sneakers fit and function as required.

We have contacted those Backers to whom we have already shipped shoes and informed them that we would provide them with new sneakers. We will use the other sneakers we have on hand for photography and then donate them to a charity assisting the underprivileged.

Our sincerest apologies for the delays. We want to make sure that we deliver what we promised.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

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Sun Sep 25 '22 Announcement
over 1 year ago – Sun, Sep 25, 2022 at 07:59:25 AM

This is just a quick update on the sneaker production. It has taken the footwear assembly factory a bit longer than they anticipated to get up to speed. Our focus has been on making high-quality shoes and, as a result,  the factory has been taking their time to get it right with the first pairs as they develop the production process for each model. In total, our customization process for the three sneaker models requires over 6,500 different size/color combinations. To ramp up the production the factory needs to work out an optimized assembly process and maintain quality control for each model and and size combination. This is why things have been a bit slower to start.

As a result the first shipment is a week behind schedule and won't arrive in Canada until September 27th or 28th.  Production will begin ramping up incrementally over the coming weeks. We are expecting 80 pairs in the first shipment, around 250 - 300 pairs to be shipped this coming week, and 500 pairs the week after that. These shipments should include all of the pairs for you Indiegogo Backers.

The filming of the production process was completed and the video is currently in post production. We will provide a link to the completed video, hopefully this coming week. In the interim, we've attached a few pictures of the lasted uppers in the production line, prior to gluing to the outsoles.

Classic Gray Sneakers
Classic Black Sneakers
Urban Sapphire Sneakers

We will post an update next week with additional information.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Best regards,

The Biopods Team.

Fri Sep 9 '22 Announcement
over 1 year ago – Fri, Sep 09, 2022 at 03:22:05 PM

Hello Backers,

This is just a quick update to let everyone know that the sneaker production began last week. Horray!

We are truly excited to finally have the production up and running, it has been a challenging experience. The first shipment is expected to arrive in Canada on September 19th or 20th. As soon as each weekly shipment  arrives in Canada we will immediately ship them to our Backers. We will be sending shipping emails with tracking information when each pair is shipped. 

We are extremely proud of the finished sneakers and we can't wait for you to experience them for yourselves and get your feedback.

We have a video crew filming the complete production process on the 14th and we will post a link to the completed video as soon as possible.

We will post an update next week with additional information.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Best regards,

The Biopods Team.

Mon Aug 22 '22 Announcement
over 1 year ago – Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 06:21:07 AM

Hello Backers,

This is just a quick update to let everyone know that the sneaker production is on track to begin on August 29th. The the first 200+ pairs should be completed by the end of next week, an additional 300+ pairs completed the following week, and 500+ pairs the week after that. The Mexican footwear factory will ship the completed sneakers to our Canadian warehouse weekly. The sneakers will then immediately shipped to Backers. We will be sending shipping emails with tracking information when each pair is shipped.

We will post an update next week with additional information.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. 

Best regards,

The Biopods Team.