artisanal ballet flats, AI, and blockchain.

The very first artisanal shoe entirely made in Italy, conceived through the connection between an artificial intelligence system and the blockchain, developed in Padua by Peron Shoes and EZ Lab, is being presented at the World AI Cannes Festival. 

Let’s see below all the details. 

The AI ballerinas: the Italian masterpiece through blockchain

As anticipated, the creation of Peron Shoes and EZ Lab is an excellent Italian handmade footwear, the result of the experience of a company that has always worked for luxury brands. 

However, what makes it unique is its origin: designed by artificial intelligence and certified, at every stage of production, through blockchain technology. 

This extraordinary combination is the heart of the project “First handmade shoe designed by AI”.

The result comes from the collaboration between Peron Shoes, a footwear company with a long history in the Riviera del Brenta, and EZ Lab, an innovative Paduan company specialized in blockchain technology.

Through their Made in Block platform, EZ Lab enhances and protects Made in Italy productions.

The initiative was presented at the World AI Cannes Festival, an international event on artificial intelligence that took place from February 8th to 10th, 2024 on the French Riviera, attracting 16 thousand visitors from all over the world.

In the Veneto Region booth, a pair of handmade ballerinas was exhibited and presented, based on a design generated by an artificial intelligence.

This one has been programmed to identify market trends and suggest suitable models for the luxury sector. 

The ballerinas feature an NFC tag inside the sole, allowing the consumer to access the Climate Digital Product Passport. 

Or rather a digital passport that, through artificial intelligence, provides detailed information on sustainability, traceability, origin, and company history.

Experimentation, creation, transparency and sustainability

Alberto Masenadore, manager of Peron Shoes, emphasizes the following:

“These ballerinas represent the first result of a new line of shoes designed by artificial intelligence for our brand Via della Paglia. Our creations grace the red carpets of glamorous events worldwide, worn by international music and film stars, as well as real personalities. With the support of EZ Lab, we wanted to leverage AI to obtain valuable information about customer desires, experiment with new designs, and optimize costs and production processes.”

On the other hand, even Massimo Morbiato, CEO and founder of EZ Lab, adds: 

“The Climate Digital Product Passport is a revolutionary tool, destined to become mandatory in the European Union, which will transform communication and trust between brands and consumers. Our mission is to support Made in Italy companies in their digital innovation journey. Our solutions contribute to improving product traceability, combating greenwashing, and promoting transparency and sustainability in the supply chain. The project realized with Peron Shoes represents the world’s first artisanal shoe to combine traditional craftsmanship with the most innovative digital technologies.”

The digital traceability of Peron Shoes footwear

The revolutionary solution proposed by Peron Shoes finds its roots in a previous project of tokenization of the entire factory. 

In fact, by installing strategic sensors along key points of production, every phase of the process is carefully recorded on the blockchain through the Made in Block platform. 

Detailed information is easily accessible thanks to the NFC tag embedded in the sole.

This approach ensures not only the traceability and authenticity of the final product, but also the sustainability of the raw materials used. 

Paint, inner calf leather, and vegetable leather sole are certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG). Furthermore, the NFC tag is connected to an NFT (Non Fungible Token), acting as a digital twin for each pair of shoes and ensuring a unique history.

The majority of sales will take place through e-commerce platforms and metaverse, closing the circle of an innovative chain that combines advanced technology and high-quality craftsmanship.