[AI Revolution](88) Christine Company "Leave Shoe Manufacturing to AI"

Digitalization of Analog Shoe Manufacturing Process
Launching 'Sinple' Solution to Attract Additional Investment
Reducing Time and Cost, Favorable for Trend Response

The core theme of the world’s largest IT and electronics exhibition, ‘CES 2024,’ held next week in the United States, is ‘AI convergence across all industries.’ For the first time in CES history, a cosmetics company CEO (L’Or?al) will participate as a keynote speaker. It is an era where AI is integrated even into cosmetics. Shoes, worn by people of all ages, are no exception. AI is bringing a fresh breeze to the analog shoe manufacturing process. AI designs shoes in response to rapidly changing trends and recommends customized factories, saving time and costs. ‘Kristin Company,’ the only shoe tech company in Korea, is leading the smart shoe manufacturing market.

Minbong Lee, CEO of Kristin Company (pictured), launched the smart shoe manufacturing solution ‘Shinple’ in January last year. Shinple is a one-stop solution that supports the entire shoe manufacturing process from production to distribution and logistics. Using Shinple, the shoe manufacturing process can be reduced from the usual six months to two months, and costs can be cut by 30-50%. The company has attracted strategic investment from TKG Taekwang (Taekwang Industrial), which produces Nike products, last year, and has garnered industry attention with cumulative investments reaching 14 billion KRW.

CEO Lee’s ‘love for shoes’ began in childhood. His parents ran a business supplying shoe materials in Busan. Busan houses about half of the nation’s shoe manufacturing factories. The process is divided into over 100 detailed steps, from factories making shoelaces to those producing soles. Because of this, new fashion companies face a challenging structure when trying to produce shoes. Lee said, “The existing shoe manufacturing process was inefficient, with information asymmetry and cartel issues.” He added, “We are collaborating with over 500 factories nationwide to collect data and lead digital transformation.” He also said, “The collaborative factories we have secured over seven years of nationwide outreach are Kristin Company’s greatest competitive advantage.” Recently, they have also started cooperating with factories in Asia, including China and Vietnam.

Christine Company provides AI design software-as-a-service (SaaS) to Naver and fashion companies based on domestic and international footwear big data analysis.

Kristin Company is exchanging technology not only with the fashion industry but also with IT companies such as Naver. They analyze the latest domestic and international trends and big data to provide information to Naver Shopping sellers. They have built a system where uploading a photo of the desired shoe model automatically calculates manufacturing costs. This method suits a multi-product, small-quantity production system that keeps pace with rapidly changing trends.

CEO Lee said, “It is said that securing young designers in the shoe fashion industry is not easy.” He added, “We hold about 2,000 shoe IPs (intellectual properties) that do not infringe on design patents, which gives us an advantage in market response.” He also operates his own shoe brand, ‘KRISTIN.’ Initially launched to test AI technology, the brand has become popular enough to be stocked at the AvenueL luxury department store. This year, they plan to open flagship stores in Busan and Seoul with a concept showcasing the shoe manufacturing process using robots.

CEO Lee plans to participate in CES 2024 to introduce Shinple to global brand companies. He said, “Shinple will solve the difficulties faced by global brands looking for Asian factories to outsource shoe manufacturing processes.”