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Footwear Tooling Design Guide

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Footwear Tooling Made Simple
Build Your Brand with Confidence

Bringing a footwear brand to life is an exciting journey, but understanding tooling design, development, and costs can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to navigate it alone. Footwear Tooling Design Guide is your go-to resource for making smart tooling investments that will set your brand up for success. With clear explanations, real-world examples, and expert insights from industry veteran Wade Motawi, you’ll gain the confidence to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
8.5″ x 11″, 415 pages, and over 650 color photos.

SKU: 4969-2-1-1-1-1 Category:

Description

Footwear Tooling Made Simple: Build Your Brand with Confidence

Play Video about Footwear Tooling Design Guide The essential tooling required for modern shoe production

The right tooling is the foundation of every great shoe. From outsole molds to cutting dies and 3D-printed prototypes, this guide walks you through the entire process—helping you design, manage, and budget for the equipment that brings your vision to reality. With clear explanations, real-world examples, and expert insights from industry veteran Wade Motawi, you’ll gain the confidence to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Whether you’re a new brand owner, a designer, or a product developer, this book simplifies the complex world of footwear tooling. You’ll learn how to select the right molds, collaborate with factories, and optimize production without overspending — everything you need to take your brand to the next level.

Investing in footwear tooling doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right knowledge, you can create high-quality shoes, control costs, and build a brand that lasts. 

The Essentials of Footwear Tooling – Understand different mold types, tooling processes, and manufacturing techniques.
How to Design & Develop Footwear Tooling – From shoe lasts to outsole molds, learn how to create and manage equipment for your brand.
Cost & Budgeting Strategies – Learn how to control expenses, optimize production efficiency, and avoid financial pitfalls.
Factory & Supplier Management – Get insider tips on working with manufacturers, avoiding common mistakes, and ensuring quality control.
Prototyping & Scaling Production – Understand the step-by-step process of building prototypes and moving to full-scale production.

Get your copy of Footwear Tooling Design Guide today and take the next step in your footwear journey!

8.5″ x 11″, 400+ pages, 650+ full-color images

Chapter Overview for Footwear Tooling Design Guide

CHAPTER 1: TOOLING DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, & COSTING 
– Understanding the role of tooling in footwear manufacturing
– Essential tooling requirements for modern shoe production
– Designing and developing tooling for efficiency 

CHAPTER 2: TOOLING COST AND PRODUCTIVITY CALCULATIONS
– The financial impact of tooling on a footwear brand
– Calculating costs, amortization, and production efficiency
– Forecasting sales vs. tooling investment for profitability
– Understanding mold productivity and return on investment

CHAPTER 3: WHAT ABOUT OPEN FOOTWEAR MOLDS? 
– The pros and cons of using open molds in footwear production
– Key considerations: last design, sizing, and quality control
– How open molds affect branding and exclusivity
– When and why to invest in proprietary tooling

CHAPTER 4: THE SHOE LAST IS EQUIPMENT
– The role of shoe lasts in footwear design and manufacturing
– Types of lasts: plastic, metal, CNC-milled
– How lasts impact fit, style, and production efficiency 

CHAPTER 5: CREATING YOUR FOOTWEAR PATTERN
– The importance of pattern-making in shoe development
– How patterns define shoe construction and material needs
– Traditional vs. digital pattern-making techniques 

CHAPTER 6: MAKING FOOTWEAR CUTTING DIES
– What cutting dies are and why they’re essential in mass production
– The process of creating and testing cutting dies
– Types of cutting dies: steel rule, CNC, and precision-cut dies 

CHAPTER 7: OUTSOLE TOOLING DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
– How outsoles are designed and tooled for durability and style
– The role of 3D scanning and CAD modeling in outsole creation
– Step-by-step guide to developing outsole molds 

CHAPTER 8: BUILDING PROTOTYPE TOOLING
– The importance of prototyping before full-scale production
– Creating temporary molds for testing new designs
– 3D printing and resin molds for prototype validation 

CHAPTER 9: RUBBER OUTSOLE & EVA COMPRESSION MOLDS 
– Understanding rubber pressing and EVA compression techniques
– How these molds impact durability, flexibility, and performance
– The process of creating and refining compression molds 

CHAPTER 10: COLD CAST RESIN FOOTWEAR TOOLING
– What cold cast resin molds are and when to use them
– Benefits and limitations of resin molds in footwear production
– How resin molds compare to metal and injection tooling 

CHAPTER 11: TEMPORARY PROTOTYPE MOLDS
– Why temporary molds are critical for testing and refinement
– Creating low-cost molds before full-scale production
– Pros and cons of various temporary mold materials 

CHAPTER 12: 3D PRINTED OUTSOLE TOOLING
– How 3D printing is revolutionizing outsole development
– The benefits of rapid prototyping in footwear tooling
– Comparing 3D printing to traditional mold-making methods 

CHAPTER 13: PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDS FOR FOOTWEAR
– The role of plastic injection molding in footwear production
– How injection molds shape key shoe components
– Cost and material considerations for injection molding 

CHAPTER 14: PVC & TPR OUTSOLE INJECTION MOLDS 
– Understanding the use of PVC and TPR in footwear outsoles
– How injection molding creates durable and flexible outsoles
– The manufacturing process for PVC and TPR tooling 

CHAPTER 15: PVC OUTSOLE DIRECT INJECTION 
– The direct injection process for PVC outsoles
– Benefits of direct injection vs. traditional molding
– How to optimize tooling for direct injection efficiency

CHAPTER 16: PU FOAM DIRECT INJECTION
– How polyurethane (PU) foam is used in footwear midsoles
– The direct injection process for PU components
– Pros and cons of PU direct injection for performance shoes 

CHAPTER 17: PU OUTSOLE INJECTION
– What makes PU outsoles a popular choice for footwear
– The injection molding process for PU outsoles
– Key design considerations for PU outsole molds 

CHAPTER 18: EVA INJECTION MOLDS
– How EVA injection molds differ from compression molds
– The benefits of EVA injection for lightweight cushioning
– Mold design and production workflow for EVA tooling 

CHAPTER 19: BLOW MOLDING AIRBAGS
– How blow molding is used to create cushioning air units
– The process of developing and refining airbag molds 

CHAPTER 20: FOOTWEAR PRODUCTION FIXTURES 
– The role of fixtures in shoe manufacturing and assembly
– Different types of fixtures for efficiency and quality control 

CHAPTER 21: RADIO FREQUENCY WELDING TOOLS 
– How RF welding is used in footwear manufacturing
– Applications for RF welding in synthetic materials 

CHAPTER 22: HOT & COLD PRESSING TOOLS
– Understanding hot and cold pressing in footwear tooling
– When to use each method for different materials 

CHAPTER 23: SILK SCREEN PRINTING EQUIPMENT 
– The role of silk screen printing in footwear branding
– How to design and implement print tooling 

CHAPTER 24: COMPOSITE MOLDING FOR SHOES
– How composite materials are molded in footwear production
– Comparing composite molding to traditional shoe tooling

CHAPTER 25: VULCANIZED SHOE PRODUCTION TOOLING
– The tooling process for vulcanized footwear
– How vulcanization differs from cold cement construction

CHAPTER 26: MANAGING YOUR TOOLING
– The importance of proper tooling management
– Avoiding common mistakes in tooling management

CHAPTER 27: CONTROLLING YOUR TOOLING INVENTORY 
– Why inventory management matters for tooling longevity
– Preventing loss and damage in tooling inventory

CHAPTER 28: FOOTWEAR TOOLING CARE & REPAIRS
– Best practices for maintaining and repairing molds 

CHAPTER 29: FOOTWEAR WITHOUT TOOLING 
– Exploring no-tooling footwear production methods
– Pros and cons of producing footwear without traditional molds 

CHAPTER 30: FOOTWEAR TOOLING REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS
– A final breakdown of tooling needs and costs
– Budgeting strategies for footwear brands
– Making smart investments in tooling development 

CHAPTER 31: BUILDING EQUIPMENT BUDGETS
– How to estimate tooling and equipment costs before production
– Strategies for creating an accurate tooling budget for your footwear brand

Title: Footwear Tooling Design, Development and Costing
Series:
How Shoes are Made (Book 6)
Publisher: ‎ Shoemakers Media llc (March, 15, 2025)
Language: ‎ English
Paperback‏: ‎ 415 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 1735883336
ISBN-13: ‎  978-1-7358833-6-6
Item Weight: ‎ 1.6 pounds
Dimensions: ‎ 8.5 x 1 x 11 inches

Additional information

Weight 2 lbs
Dimensions 11 × 9 × 1 in
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