Alternative Limb Project
The Alternative Limb Project is a London-based, founder-led studio creating bespoke prosthetic limbs as wearable art, combining silicone craftsmanship with 3D printing, electronics and robotics. It serves individual amputees, Paralympians, performing artists, and brand partners through one-off commissions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Alternative Limb Project does
The Alternative Limb Project is a London-based, founder-led studio that designs and produces bespoke prosthetic limbs positioned as wearable art. Founded in 2011 by prosthetics artist Sophie de Oliveira Barata, the studio operates from a small studio in Lewes, UK with 1-10 employees, working in conjunction with in-house prosthetist Chris Parsons at Design Prosthetics for clinical fitting. Its core offering is one-off, individually priced commissions ranging from ultra-realistic high-definition silicone covers with natural hair detailing to imaginative, sculptural pieces — including kinetic arms with 26-vertebrae botanical movement, bionic hands with electrode-driven grips, pulse-synchronised carbon fibre arms, and a Tesla-coil Jacob's ladder leg.
Technically, the studio combines traditional crafts (silicone sculpting, wood carving, metalwork) with 3D printing (SLS nylon, multi-material), CNC routing, carbon fibre and fibreglass layups, electronics integration (LEDs, Bluetooth, USB, heart-rate and force sensors), and embedded robotics. Revenue is generated on a project-by-project, self-funded commission basis with non-public pricing, supplemented by sponsored collaborations with corporate partners such as Konami, Rolls Royce, Channel 4 and the Paralympics 2012 closing ceremony, plus income or profile value from museum exhibitions and installations (V&A, Science Museum London, National Museum of Scotland, Musée de l'Homme, Ars Electronica). Customers include individual amputees seeking expressive prosthetics, Paralympians and performing artists, and corporate clients commissioning branded wearables for marketing and campaigns; the studio is private, has no disclosed outside funding, and does not appear to operate resellers or distributors.
Alternative Limb Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alternative Limb Project
- Legal name
- The Alternative Limb Project
- Website
- https://thealternativelimbproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Alternative Limb Project is a London-based, founder-led studio creating bespoke prosthetic limbs as wearable art, combining silicone craftsmanship with 3D printing, electronics and robotics. It serves individual amputees, Paralympians, performing artists, and brand partners through one-off commissions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alternative Limb Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Prosthetics
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Limb Prosthetics (Upper/Lower Extremity Prosthetic Systems) (HLAHAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports & Active Rehabilitation Devices (Adaptive Sports Mobility, Performance Prosthetics) (HLAHAMAJ), Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets) (HLAHAMAD)
Keywords
Where Alternative Limb Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alternative Limb Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Bespoke Custom Prosthetic Limbs: The company creates highly stylized, custom prosthetic limbs for individual clients. Each project is bespoke and priced individually based on complexity, materials, and technology requirements. Clients who can self-fund their alternative limb are directed to contact the company directly.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Alternative Limb Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Alternative Limb Project creates highly stylized, bespoke prosthetic limbs and covers that merge the latest technology (3D printing, electronics, LED lighting, Bluetooth, heart-rate sensors, carbon fibre) with traditional crafts (ultra-realistic silicone sculpting, wood carving, metalwork, electroplating). Each piece is custom-made for an individual amputee client or commissioned by corporate partners, spanning ultra-realistic silicone covers to imaginative wearable art (e.g., bionic arms with integrated drones, Tesla coil legs, botanical robotic arms, crystal-encrusted Paralympic legs).
Product overview
The Alternative Limb Project is a bespoke prosthetic limb studio that creates highly stylized wearable art pieces, combining the latest technology with traditional crafts. The core offering consists of custom-made prosthetic limbs and covers for amputees, ranging from ultra-realistic silicone limb covers to imaginative artistic prosthetics. The studio works closely with collaborators and amputees including Paralympic athletes, musicians, models, performing artists, and video game companies. Products include artistic limbs like the Vine botanical arm, Electric Spark with Tesla coil technology, the Phantom Limb bionic arm with drone capabilities, and the Cuckoo clock leg, alongside realistic silicone covers and fashion-forward prosthetic blades.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Anatomical Leg A realistic 3D printed and silicone prosthetic leg made from 3D printed nylon, silicone, and lacquer in various colours, created for an ex-serviceman client.
- Bloomsbury Droid A 3D printed SLS nylon cover with hydro-dipping for a microprocessor Genium leg, featuring a sophisticated cyborg aesthetic with clean lines, metal knee cap, secret compartment with lights, and turbine engine design when the knee is bent.
- Crystal Leg A luxurious prosthetic leg made with silicone, hundreds of rhinestones, Swarovski crystals, and shards of plastic, commissioned for the Paralympics 2012 closing ceremony.
- Cuckoo A cherry wood carved prosthetic leg featuring a working cuckoo clock, bell, and pendulum, created for dancer Welly O'Brien and featured in a dance film for Sadler's Wells.
- Dan A realistic high-definition silicone limb cover with natural hair punched individually, for a client with congenital below-knee amputation.
- Electric Spark The first ever recorded wearable Jacob's ladder, featuring a mini Tesla coil in the shoe which activates an electrical spark effect, commissioned for Rolls Royce.
- Floral Leg A prosthetic leg made from silicone and ink, designed to be both beautiful and expressive, created for the chairperson of a disability charity.
- Gadget Arm A vintage styled leather arm featuring gadgets including secret compartment, torch, laser, matches, telescopic magnet, watch, compass, and knives.
- Light Leg A prosthetic leg with LED lights housed in a hollow fibreglass and silicone bone construction, finished in chrome lacquer, commissioned for a music video.
- Materialise A two-part prosthetic arm combining realistic skin-like silicone on the underside with interchangeable mystical/elemental sections (steel, rock, earth, wood, moss, oil, cork, wool, bronze, rhodium and gold) on the upper half, made using 3D printing, CNC routing, hand carving, and sculpting.
- Phantom Limb A Metal Gear Solid-inspired bionic arm featuring a 3D printed bionic hand, carbon fibre construction, Bluetooth-enabled wrist with USB port, torch, laser, heart-rate sensor, quadcopter drone housed in the shoulder, and high voltage lithium battery.
- Snake Arm A prosthetic arm made from silicone and foam piping depicting snakes crawling into the skin, created for a British swimmer and motivational speaker.
- Spike An expandable hard foam prosthetic leg with black lacquer, fibreglass, and steel construction, designed as the ultimate form of power dressing for a music video.
- Mirror Shard Blade A fashion prosthetic blade combining chrome lacquer, mirror, and clear perspex shards, transforming a running blade into a stiletto heel with chandelier design for a Paralympian at London Fashion Week.
- Stereo Leg A glamorous bionic prosthetic leg incorporating found stereo speakers and cast engine parts in resin, decorated with rhinestones, studs, chains, jewels, and crystals.
- Synchronised An electroplated gold carbon fibre prosthetic arm covered in clear acrylic layers that mirrors the wearer's right arm, with internal electronics that tick in time to the wearer's heartbeat via pulse reading.
- Vine A botanical tentacle and flora/fauna hybrid prosthetic arm with 26 individual vertebrae allowing subtle organic movement, controlled by force sensors embedded in the wearer's shoes.
- The 20:45 to Lover's Rest An installation and performance piece featuring two constructed prosthetic limbs integrated into a model railway landscape, created with collaborators and exhibited at a railway museum.
Companies that use Alternative Limb Project
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alternative Limb Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Alternative Limb Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- KonamiflagshipGames giant Konami approached The Alternative Limb Project to create a bespoke prosthetic limb inspired by Metal Gear Solid video game. The resulting Phantom Limb for James Young featured cutting-edge technology including 3D printed bionic hand, carbon fibre construction, bluetooth connectivity, and integrated quadcopter drone.
- Open BionicscoreProvided 3D printed bionic hand for the Phantom Limb project. The hand receives signals from electrodes in the harness to form various grips and gestures.
- GTR (motorsport and aerospace manufacturers)coreProduced carbon fibre arm parts for the Phantom Limb project, making the arm lightweight and very strong.
- Design Prosthetics (Chris Parsons)coreIn-house prosthetist providing advice on fitting, prosthetic limb care, and complete prosthetic rebuilds. Works in conjunction with The Alternative Limb Project for client fittings.
- Sadler's WellsflagshipCo-produced the Cuckoo Leg project and film with Candoco Dance Company for Sadler's Wells digital stage. The project featured Welly O'Brien dancing with a cherry wood prosthetic containing a working cuckoo clock.
- Candoco Dance CompanyflagshipCo-produced the Cuckoo Leg project with Sadler's Wells for a visually striking dance film exploring experience of time passing.
- Channel 4flagshipCommissioned prosthetic legs including Spike Leg and Light Leg for Viktoria Modesta's 'Prototype' music video as part of Channel 4's Born Risky campaign.
- Rolls RoyceflagshipCommissioned the Electric Spark leg - the first ever recorded wearable jacob's ladder, influenced by elements of the Rolls Royce Black Badge car.
- Paralympics 2012flagshipCommissioned Crystal Leg for Paralympics 2012 closing ceremony, designed to look luxurious, dazzling, striking and dangerous.
- Dani ClodecoreCollaborative designer on multiple projects including Synchronised arm (co-designer) and The Vine botanical arm (concept creation, mechanical engineering, material resourcing).
- Hugo EliascoreRobotics engineer on The Vine project, responsible for design and build of electronics enabling the arm's 26 vertebrae to move organically.
- National Museum of ScotlandflagshipCommissioned The Vine prosthetic arm for permanent exhibition in the Biomedical Department. Also exhibited various limbs as part of wearable tech exhibition.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Alternative Limb Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Össur: Össur is a global leader in prosthetics, including the Rheo Knee and touch bionics lines. It is comparable as the dominant scaled incumbent whose functional bionic limbs and microprocessor knees underpin many of ALP's bespoke covers, and which competes for the same amputee customers at the functional end of the spectrum.
- Ottobock: Ottobock is the world's largest prosthetics manufacturer, supplying bionic hands, knees, and feet. Its Michelangelo, bebionic, and Genium lines form the technical foundation on which several of ALP's bespoke covers (e.g., Bloomsbury Droid over a Genium) are built, making it a structural counterpart rather than a direct competitor.
- Fillauer: Fillauer manufactures prosthetic components, feet, and silicone products. Comparable as a long-established supplier of prosthetic building blocks that ALP integrates into bespoke works, addressing a broader functional prosthetics market rather than the expressive niche.
Direct peers
- Naked Prosthetics: Naked Prosthetics manufactures highly engineered, design-forward partial-hand and finger prosthetics prioritising aesthetics and individual identity. Its emphasis on body-driven, non-conventional design and specialty niche makes it a direct analogue to ALP's expressive prosthetics philosophy at a smaller anatomical scale.
- UNYQ: UNYQ produces 3D-printed, fashion-forward prosthetic covers that let amputees personalise their devices. The closest direct comparison to ALP's signature silicone and 3D-printed covers, with a more productised go-to-market but identical positioning around identity expression through prosthetic aesthetics.
- Limbitless Solutions: Limbitless Solutions is a non-profit producing artistic 3D-printed bionic arms for children, with strong customisation and a mission-driven brand. It shares ALP's approach of treating prosthetics as expressive personal objects rather than purely functional devices, and operates in a similar creative-clinical partnership model.
- Open Bionics: Open Bionics develops affordable 3D-printed bionic arms and has supplied hardware for ALP's Phantom Limb project. It competes in the same intersection of expressive design and functional prosthetics, with hero-arm aesthetics and licensed designs (e.g., Disney) that mirror ALP's approach of turning prosthetics into identity artefacts.
Emerging players
- Psyonic: Psyonic makes the Ability Hand, a multi-articulating bionic hand with embedded sensors. An emerging player with comparable ambition of advancing bionic prosthetic capability and user experience, addressing a different stage of the same expressive-prosthetic value chain as ALP.
- Atom Limbs: Atom Limbs is developing a next-generation bionic arm combining EEG and EMG control. It overlaps with ALP's Phantom Limb in pursuing bionic functionality with a strong design ethos, though focused on neural-control hardware rather than artistic covers.
- Esper Bionics: Esper Bionics produces a self-learning bionic hand with cloud-connected firmware. Comparable as an emerging player pushing design-forward bionic prosthetics; positioned closer to ALP on product aesthetics than traditional incumbents, though still functionally rather than artistically oriented.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alternative Limb Project social profiles
Digital presenceAlternative Limb Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alternative Limb Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Alternative Limb Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alternative Limb Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alternative Limb Project
What does Alternative Limb Project do?
The Alternative Limb Project creates highly stylized, bespoke prosthetic limbs and covers that merge the latest technology (3D printing, electronics, LED lighting, Bluetooth, heart-rate sensors, carbon fibre) with traditional crafts (ultra-realistic silicone sculpting, wood carving, metalwork, electroplating). Each piece is custom-made for an individual amputee client or commissioned by corporate partners, spanning ultra-realistic silicone covers to imaginative wearable art (e.g., bionic arms with integrated drones, Tesla coil legs, botanical robotic arms, crystal-encrusted Paralympic legs).
Is Alternative Limb Project a public or private company?
Alternative Limb Project is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Alternative Limb Project founded?
Alternative Limb Project was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alternative Limb Project based?
Alternative Limb Project is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Alternative Limb Project make money?
One revenue line is on record: bespoke Custom Prosthetic Limbs.
Who are Alternative Limb Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Össur, Ottobock and Fillauer. Direct peers are Naked Prosthetics, UNYQ, Limbitless Solutions and Open Bionics. Emerging players are Psyonic, Atom Limbs and Esper Bionics.
Does Alternative Limb Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alternative Limb Project.
What industry is Alternative Limb Project in?
Alternative Limb Project's product category is Custom Prosthetics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAH, Limb Prosthetics (Upper/Lower Extremity Prosthetic Systems), with a secondary code of HLAHAMAJ, Sports & Active Rehabilitation Devices (Adaptive Sports Mobility, Performance Prosthetics). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3842.