What is the right foam for shoes? There are many types of foam used to make shoes. We are going to review the foam found in the uppers and outsoles of shoes. First, what is foam? Foam is a soft plastic that is filled with […]
Textiles for Shoe Design: If you want to learn how to design shoes you must have an understanding of fabrics. Fabrics, or textiles, are a miracle material for footwear designers! With an infinite variety of weaves, knits, colors, patterns, and special features, textiles have a special […]
Do you want to be a professional shoe designer? You must learn how to select and specify each shoe material correctly. Our newest book, The Shoe Material Design Guide, details all the shoe materials you will need to make modern athletic, classic casuals, and high fashion […]
Shoe Dissection: See Inside Nike Kobe XI Elite Low Today we have a pair of the Nike™ Kobe XI Elite Lows in the Sneaker factory teardown lab. The color is Hyper Grape, Black with a clear gel sole. Sorry to all you Nike and Kobe […]
Introduced in 2012, Nike™ Flyknit™ technology, also called 4D knitting is changing the way athletic shoes are made. A one-piece upper design is produced by a CNC knitting machine then assembled with the tongue, lining materials, and reinforcements. This knitting technology once found only on expensive shoes is rapidly […]
Shoe Material Suppliers A supply of high-quality shoe materials and subcomponents is key to great looking and long lasting shoes. Your shoe material suppliers will be your best partners as you design and develop your shoe lines. A good relationship with your shoe material suppliers has many […]