An upper for an article of footwear includes a base layer, an exterior layer, a first strap, and a second strap. The exterior layer at least partially covers an outer side of the base layer and defines a first aperture and a second aperture both in a forefoot region. Each strap includes a central portion, a front branch, and a rear branch, the front and rear branches disposed between the outer side of the base layer and the exterior layer. The front branch of the second strap crosses the rear branch of the first strap and is disposed forward of the rear branch of the first strap at the lower extent of the base layer. The central portion of the first strap extends through the first aperture and defines a first loop, and the central portion of the second strap extends through the second aperture and defines a second loop.

Advances in actuating fabrics could enable a paradigm shift in the field of smart wearables by dynamically fitting themselves to the unique topography of the human body. Active fabrics and fitting mechanisms are described herein that enable garments to conform around surface concavities without requiring high elasticity or a multiplicity of closure devices. Advanced materials and systems innovations (1) enable novel garment manufacturing and application strategies, (2) facilitate topographical fitting (spatial actuation) through garment architectural design, and (3) provide tunable NiTi-based SMA actuation temperatures to enable actuation on the surface of human skin. Such fabrics and garments are usable in a variety of fields including medical compression, technical sportswear, exosuits, space suits and components thereof, or non-garment applications.

An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.

A system for forming a non-woven, yarn structure for an engineered textile includes a jig having a plurality of upstanding pins and an automatic winding system for winding a plurality of continuous strands of yarn across the jig and around the upstanding pins. The automatic winding system includes a movement mechanism and a winding head coupled with the movement mechanism. The movement mechanism includes one or more motors that are configured to translate the winding head across a central workspace area of the jig. The winding head includes a rotatable base; a plurality of yarn guides arranged in a linear array and extending from the rotatable base, each yarn guide adapted to receive a different one of the continuous strands, and a rotation motor coupled to the rotatable base and configured to selectively rotate the base to alter an orientation of the linear array.

An upper includes an upper main body that covers an instep of a foot. A first region and a second region adjacent to the first region are formed in the upper main body . The upper main body includes: a first linear body provided across the first region and the second region or provided only in the second region; and a second linear body provided in the first region while avoiding the second region and having an end located at a boundary portion between the first region and the second region. The first linear body and the second linear body have mutually different stretchability.

An article of footwear has a multi-layer upper, where the outermost layers of the upper are cut into a pattern. The cut portions of the upper are mounted on a contiguous substrate layer so that the edges of the cut portions are visible and perceptible to touch. The upper remains durable in terms of abrasion resistance, ply adhesion, tensile strength, and flex testing.

Footwear with integrally knit uppers having features for increasing containment around a wearer's foot, improving strength and durability, and incorporating touch feedback through increased coefficient of friction while removing weight due to traditional additional components. The knitted component may be radially knitted so that courses converge towards a common area, like the throat region of the upper. Additionally, a fusible yarn may be knit on at least the exterior-facing surface of a containment area of the knitted component to create additional lock-down along lines of containment. Further, tensile elements may be incorporated within the containment area to provide strength and lock-down along desired lines of containment. Additionally, the fusible yarn may be a grip yarn that creates areas with greater coefficients of friction.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.

A knitted component having an outer perimeter and a common portion, which may be a centrally-located region, such as a throat region and/or a collar region. A plurality of courses of the knitted component extend between the between the outer perimeter and the common portion such that the courses may be radially-extending outwards from the common portion. One or more continuous strand may be inlaid within the knit courses to form a plurality of strand segments that extend within respective ones of the plurality of courses of the knitted component between the outer perimeter and the common portion of the knitted component.

A tethered anchor point for a footwear lace element includes various elements. For example, the tethered anchor point includes a tensile strand that attaches to a portion of the footwear article. In addition, the tethered anchor point includes a tensile-strand reinforcement. The tensile-strand reinforcement provides a sliding surface against which the lace element of the footwear article may slide when the lace element is threaded through the tethered anchor point.