In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component. The knitted component may have a forefoot portion with a top layer and a bottom layer, where a void is formed between the top layer and the bottom layer, and where the top layer is secured to the bottom layer via at least one common knit structure. A heel area may extend from the bottom layer of the forefoot portion in a longitudinal direction and may be secured to the bottom layer of the forefoot portion via at least one common knit structure. At least one extension may extend from the heel area in a second direction, the second direction being different than the longitudinal direction.

Presented are automated manufacturing systems for fabricating engineered textiles, footwear and apparel formed with such engineered textiles, methods for making such engineered textiles, and memory-stored, processor-executable instructions for operating such manufacturing systems. An automated manufacturing system constructs engineered textiles from workpieces composed of superposed, unwoven wires. The system includes a movable end effector bearing a stitching head and an image capture device. The stitching head has a thread feeder and sewing needle to generate stitches. The image capture device captures images of the workpiece and outputs data indicative thereof. A system controller receives this image capture device data and locates, from the captured image of the workpiece, gaps defined between quadrangles of the superposed wires. The controller commands the end effector to sequentially move the stitching head and thereby align the sewing needle with the gaps, and commands the stitching head to insert a succession of stitches within these gaps.

An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper secured to the sole structure. The upper can include an inner knit component and an outer shroud formed at least in part of a knitted material. The outer shroud may extend over a throat region formed by the inner knit component and may include a plurality of protrusions extending outward from its outer surface. In some configurations, the upper comprises a single knitted component that forms the lateral side, medial side, and a throat region extending between them, where the throat region may be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the footwear. The inner knit component may include one or more tensile strands forming overlapping loops to receive a fastening element.

Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. Sequins can be arranged in various patterns. Sequins can be arranged in dispersive patterns. Sequin patterns can be used to create gradients on the outside of an upper. The sequins can be used to attach two layers where the density of the sequins used to attach the layers can affect thermal properties, flexibility and relative motion between the layers.

An article of footwear includes a strobel having an interior surface and an exterior surface formed on an opposite side from the interior surface, the strobel defining a footbed and a peripheral wall extending transversely from the footbed to a terminal edge. The article of footwear additionally includes an upper attached to the terminal edge of the strobel along a peripheral seam to define an interior void for receiving a foot, the peripheral seam configured to extend along a side of the interior void.

The present disclosure provides a knitted component for an article of footwear. The knitted component may include a first side and a second side, where the first side and the second side form an overfoot portion. An underfoot portion may be located between the first side and the second side, where at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side of the knitted component are located on one of a medial side and a lateral side of the overfoot portion, and where a knitted course extends from the first side, through the underfoot portion, and to the second side.

A knitted component comprising a spacer knit construction having a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer facing opposite the first knitted layer, the second knitted layer spaced relative to the first knitted layer and defining a cavity therebetween, and a spacer strand traversing the cavity between the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer to secure the first knitted layer to the second knitted layer. The first knitted layer is at least partially formed with a first monofilament and a second monofilament such that both of the first monofilament and the second monofilament are exposed on an outer surface of the first knitted layer. The first monofilament comprises a first denier and the second monofilament comprises a second denier, the first denier being at least 250% greater than the second denier.

The object of the present disclosure is to address the shortcomings in the prior art by providing a novel weaving shoe upper with elastic strings, aiming to offer a structure that is simple and provides good breathability. The shoe upper includes a water-soluble fabric base layer and at least one thermoplastic elastic-string layer with thermoplastic elastic strings wound back and forth on the water-soluble fabric base layer. Each of the thermoplastic elastic strings is heat-pressed and bonded at the intersection or overlap points between thermoplastic elastic strings.

A method may include one or more of the following steps: knitting a first knit layer and a second knit layer on a knitting machine, where the first knit layer and the second knit layer each include a plurality of intermeshed loops, and where at least one loop of the first knit layer is intermeshed with at least one loop of the second knit layer; inlaying an inlaid strand between the first knit layer and the second knit layer during the knitting of the first knit layer and the second knit layer, where the inlaid strand includes a thermoplastic material having a melting point; and applying heat to at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the inlaid strand such that the portion of the thermoplastic material rises to a temperature at or above the melting point.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component. The knitted component may have a forefoot portion with a top layer and a bottom layer, where a void is formed between the top layer and the bottom layer, and where the top layer is secured to the bottom layer via at least one common knit structure. A heel area may extend from the bottom layer of the forefoot portion in a longitudinal direction and may be secured to the bottom layer of the forefoot portion via at least one common knit structure. At least one extension may extend from the heel area in a second direction, the second direction being different than the longitudinal direction.