Gucci just did a sneaker drop on their Instagram. What caught our attention was the mesmerising shoe lace animation and we wanted to take a look into 'how' shoelaces can be handled in 3D environments.
We first came across this clip from NODES INTERACTIVE on YouTube, showcasing a procedural approach to animating shoelaces.
A plane drives the setup, with additional cuts along the mesh generating rings and extending the lace dynamically.
The technique was too clean—and too clever—not to include.
Derek Elliott breaks down a similar setup—though in his case, it's a cord rather than a shoelace.
The core idea remains the same: a tube following a spline, with an aglet anchored precisely at the leading edge.
Different material, same elegant principle.
Whether it’s for sneakers, cords, or anything in between—handling dynamic elements like laces in 3D comes down to smart rigging, clean setups, and subtle detail.
By looking at both Gucci’s drop and the tutorials from NODES INTERACTIVE and Derek Elliott, we get a glimpse into how small movements can elevate a product reveal into something captivating.
Hope this gave you some ideas—or at least a bit of inspiration.
Until next time,
Stay curious. Stay sharp.
