Construction

The Toe Shape 

To achieve a structured toe shape you will need to include a toe puff - as mentioned previously. YSL are infamous for their sleek and harsh shaping.



Bottega Veneta

Penelope Chilvers 

Opening Ceremony

The next important part of construction, in terms of maintaining a shape, is the stiffener - mentioned earlier and used for the back part of the upper.  

Saint Laurent - for aesthetic structure

Altuzarra - to maintain shape of fruit design

Toga Pulla - used in order to prevent slouching at the ankle when using strap detail

Alexander McQueen - used for simple flat shoes also to maintain general shape for long term wear

You Gotta Have Sole

Soles

Men's insole process - cut, bevel, mould, then fit shank

Knock-on sole process - cut, trim the edge, ink the edge, machine/hand application

 

Bound insole for strip sandal, without toe piece
&
Bound insole for closed toe/open back shoe

 

The same binding process for court shoe

 

The same process can be carried out for many styles of shoe, except for most sportswear which require a unit made in by experts.

 

Heels

Types of Heels

Heels are the most expensive component of the entire shoe and are one of the first things you will need to think about before making. You will need to select your last once determining the height you want your heel.

There are three basic types of heels:

Louis Heel - Characterised by the curved heel breast and is normally recognised by the fact that the sole extends down the front of the heel.

Cuban Heel - Characterised by the straight front and the sole does not extend down the front of it but on to the top. Technically known as a knock on heel.

Wedge Heel - Characterised by its triangular shape

All these types of heels can have different  that enable a different process of application to the shoe. A heel tab - is an open hook on the back of the heel collar to ensure secure fit and prevent irritation. A heel counter - is a plastic cup that is encased in the upper and around the heel for better shoe fit and rear foot control. 

In order to apply either tab or counter, the structure of the heel must accomodate.

 

Heels can be stacked, have a genuine spray, or galvanised, and can be covered afterwards with desired fabric.

 

Stacked leather heel

Genuine sprayed heel



 

 



 

 

The Trade Terms

Upper Materials

Aniline - Leather dyed but not finished with pigment.

Antique/Burnished - A buffing process that resembles natural ageing.

Suede Pigskin - Pigskin that has a nap surface

Calf - From small Bovine hides

Gluvskin/Gluvside - Soft, lightweight, from Bovine hides

Gluvsoft - Full substance leather that is tanned to give a glove like feel 

Print - Embossed to represent the look of leather

Hardness/Saddle - Leather with a high gloss surface

Kid - Leather from the skin of a young goat

Oil Stuffed Hide - Heavyweight leather with high oil content (used in heavyweight boots or bags)

Rub-off/Two-tone - Two shades mixed together (ombre effect)

Scratch Hide  - Heavyweight leather, minimum finishing so natural scratches are visible

Suede - velvet-like finish/napped surface. Produced by an abrasive process. Often lambskin leather.

Nappa Leather - Supple version of sheepskin

Grain - The inherent surface pattern of leather, differentiated by the animal from which it came.

Scotch Grain - A pebble look create by embossing leather.

Nubuck - Lightweight, supple, suede-like

Patent - From cattle hide, made to have a shiny and glossy appearance 

Other materials that have potential for shoes are all sorts of textiles (both synthetic and natural - canvas, hemp, etc), and non-leather materials. Materials must be appropriate for footwear manufacturing. Textiles often have a backing applied to make sure they are durable for wear and production.