The present disclosure provides footwear with an internal metatarsal guard and a related manufacturing method. In the depicted embodiment, the metatarsal guard is internal in that it is located under the outer layer of the footwear. In the depicted embodiment, the existence of the metatarsal guard can be visually detected from the outside of the footwear being that the metatarsal guard is located in a raised area in vamp of the footwear. The footwear is constructed such that the metatarsal guard does not impinge into the foot volume of the footwear, and the metatarsal protection also is arranged and configured to maintain a high degree of flexibility in the footwear.

Aspects herein are directed to a reflective textile, and articles of apparel, uppers for an article of footwear constructed therefrom, comprising a reflective material dispersed between a first and second surface of the textile in a first zone. The first zone reflects a greater amount of light than a second zone of the textile. Other aspects herein are directed to a method of manufacturing a reflective textile or article having a portion comprising a reflective textile.

Methods are described for printing a three-dimensional structural component onto a base. For example, a method of printing is provided, including receiving a set of predetermined thicknesses for the three-dimensional structural component. The set of predetermined thicknesses has a first thickness and a second thickness. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes instructing a printing device to print a single layer for the three-dimensional structural component using the set of predetermined thicknesses. The method further includes printing a first portion of the single layer onto the base so that the first portion has the first thickness. The method further includes printing a second portion of the single layer onto the base so that the second portion has the second thickness.

Footwear upper components include a fabric element having a first thermoplastic polyurethane component and a bladder component that defines a sealed interior chamber for containing a fluid. The bladder component includes an outer perimeter seam that extends at least partially around the sealed interior chamber, and at least a portion of this outer perimeter seam is engaged with the first thermoplastic polyurethane component of the fabric element. The outer perimeter seam seals two thermoplastic sheets together to form the bladder component. At least a portion of a major exterior surface of one thermoplastic sheet that defines the sealed interior chamber may be bonded to the thermoplastic polyurethane component of the fabric element in an adhesive free manner, and/or the portion of the outer perimeter seam that is bonded to the first thermoplastic polyurethane component of the fabric element may be bonded in an adhesive free manner.

Systems and methods for providing a golf shoe comprising a heel cup with an asymmetrical padding configuration to reduce foot movement during a golf swing. The asymmetrical padding configuration may include one or more heel pads that fit the contour of the heel area of the wearer's foot to provide proper support and fit to a golfer to reduce the voids of space that normally occur around the heel portion in a shoe. The support may lead to a better fit for increased comfort and more stability during the golf swing by reducing foot movement during the swing. The heel pad(s) may be provided between an outer and inner layer of material forming the shoe's upper and may be made of a variety of different materials that may give different stiffness and comfort to the heel area of the wearer's foot. In some examples, the shoe may be waterproof.

Methods are described for creating a correspondence between percentages of a spot color and print material thicknesses. For example, a method can include printing a set of printed regions on a substrate, wherein each printed region is printed according to a different percentage of a selected spot color. The method can further comprise measuring the thickness of each printed region. The method can further comprise comparing the thickness of each printed region with a target thickness for the printed region. The target thickness for the printed region can be determined according to the percentage of the selected spot color used for printing the printed region. The method can further comprise, for each target thickness, determining an adjusted spot color percentage required to print a layer of structural print material having the target thickness.

A shoe having an upper and a sole connected to the upper. The upper has, at least in part, a knitted material forming its outer surface. To ensure sufficient longitudinal elasticity in the forefoot region and a good fit, along with efficient production, the knitted material consists of a first knitted material layer produced from a first thread, wherein the first material layer has arranged on it a second knitted material layer produced from a second thread. The second material layer at least partially covers the first material layer. In the region of the front half, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, and/or in the heel region of the shoe, the second material layer runs, at least in part, in strip form in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the shoe so as to form a number of strips running parallel to one another.

An upper for a sports shoe may include a component such as a vamp or a rear portion. The shoe component may include a UV curable microlattice structure with a plurality of regions such that each region has a different density. In some cases, the microlattice structure may include a high density microlattice structure, a mid-level density microlattice structure, and a non-structural region with a low density microlattice structure.

An upper comprising a flexible layer configured to receive a foot, a bladder coupled to an outer surface of the flexible layer, and an inflation mechanism operatively coupled to the bladder for inflating the bladder such that the flexible layer is drawn toward the foot. The bladder extends from a lateral side in a heel region across a throat region to a medial side in the heel region. The bladder comprises a plurality of fluidly connected segments, each segment forming an angle with an adjacent segment.

A variety of products may incorporate cultured leather, which is produced in vitro. Examples of products that may incorporate cultured leather include footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, furniture, handbags or any other consumer or industrial product that commonly incorporates conventional leather or synthetic leather.