Shoe Maker

Poly-Urethane is Synthetic (plastic) material with minute bubbles or cells and a skin like surface. Used for upper materials, and in a different form for midsoles or padding foam. PU (upper material

Natural Rubber (NR) is produced from latex obtained from rubber trees in plantations. The most important forms in which NR is processed are the following Sheets, Crepes, Block Rubber and Preserved Latex Concentrates.

The lasting pressure is amount of tension required to stretch the upper on the the last form. To much lasting pressure can damage, rip or wrinkle the upper. Too little lasting pressure will result is a soft ill formed, baggy upper. It’s upper to the pattern master to get this right, it’s a skill as different materials will require different patterns and amounts of lasting pressure to look right.

Microfiber Synthetic Leather. These high quality micro fiber suede materials can be expensive but they are great for use on shoes, gloves, linings and trim.

Footbed or insole is the foam padded mesh that your foot stands on. May be removable or may be cemented in. High end shoes will be molded EVA of PU foam. Low end shoes will be die cut EVA. Also called Sockliner.

Sort of the reverse of the cutting loss but not exactly. A large shape cut from a small piece of material will be low yield. A small part cut form a big piece of material will be high yield. The larger the width of a material roll can increase the cutting yield.

He's using the colour swatch to choose different materials and colours to make all the shoes of his order.

sample pieces of several materials and colours used to make the shoes

You’ve seen this tool in every shoe store. This is the standard for measuring feet. If you’re developing footwear, you must have a Brannock device in your office. When a tester says a shoe fits loose or tight the first thing you need to do is measure their feet against the machine. The Brannock device will give you the length and width measurements. Remember to measure both left and right Feet! Also use your flexible measuring tape to measure the ball girth.

Primer is a cleaning product, solvent or water based, used to prepare surfaces for bonding. The primer clears away any oil or mold released from parts which is critical for a good cement bond.

The bottom component of a shoe that provides grip and traction. The outsole is commonly rubber, but can be high density PU or EVA foam. Dress shoes may have leather bottoms.

Microfiber Synthetic Leather. These high quality micro fiber suede materials can be expensive but they are great for use on shoes, gloves, linings and trim.

The standard 40 foot long ocean container the size of a 40 foot trailer on a semi truck. The standard size is 40 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet and holds about 5000 pairs of shoes. There is the half size 20 footer and the Extra Large 40 foot High Cube (about 1 foot taller than the standard 40.

The buckle of that shoe is the most beautiful of the whole collection.

fastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or strap; often has loose prong

The die cut EVA midsole is simple way to add cushioning foam into the bottom of a shoe. The shoe sole will have a cavity molded into the rubber. A piece of die cut foam is simply glued into the cavity. The Die Cut EVA midsole can be flat or the EVA can be profile cut. This EVA is not visible from the outside of the shoe. It will be surrounded by the sole unit and it will be under the lasting board or stroble sock.

Grade is the quality of an item. A-Grade is good. B-Grade has flaws can be sold at a discount. C-Grade can’t be sole, must be destroyed or repaired if possible.

Ortho-lite is brand name for a crystallized PU foam footbed. Lite, Flexible and comfortable. This footbed came be found in High end running shoes.

A factory customer and the factory agree to pay for shoe tooling piece by piece. The tooling is amortized ,but adding a small charge to each pair of shoes. For Example a $10,000 tooling bill make be payed by adding $.50 to the first 20,000 pairs sold.

The cut and buff shoe midsole is the classic running shoe construction. The Nike Cortez and many New Balance classic use this assembly method. A cut and Buff misdole is made by cementing of profile cut EVA to a flat rubber midsole. The profile of the EVA makes the toe tip thinner and the heel thicker. Once the EVA is bonded to the rubber the parts are die CUT to the correct outline shape. The assemble is taken to and angled grinding stone to the have the side angle BUFFED.

She prefers to buy shoes with high heels.

the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground