The invention is a high heel shoe with an upper that will provide comfort and flexibility for the wearer. In a preferred embodiment the upper consists of two at least two materials: 1) a firm fabric, such as leather, that will hold the shape of the design and have limited flexibility; 2) a flat knitted elastic, such as knit elastic, which will not narrow, or not narrow significantly, when stretched. In addition, the firm fabric is configured to have a flex-point and in a preferred embodiment is formed of two pieces of the firm material having a “split” between them providing the desired flex-point.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a knitted component for use in an article of footwear may include a first layer with a multi-bed first area having a first surface and an opposite facing second surface. The knitted component may include a second layer with a second area overlapping the first area. The second area may have a first surface and an opposite facing second surface. The knitted component may include a plurality of interlayer knit stitches interlooping at least one yarn of the first layer with at least one yarn of the second layer at an interface between the second surfaces of the first and second areas. The interior surfaces of the first area and the second area may define at least part of a freely separable area between the first and second areas.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to a shoe that includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole, in which the upper includes an upper main body that covers the forefoot portion, a portion of the midfoot portion, and the heel portion of the wearer, and a tongue that covers a portion of the midfoot portion, the tongue is connected to the upper main body in a front end portion or in the front end portion and portions of side portions, and the front end portion of the tongue is located such that the path length from a rear end portion of the shoe is a range of 35% or more and 50% or less based on a center line passing from the rear end portion to a front end portion of the shoe. This provides a shoe that has good fittability to the foot and good contact with the foot, and that is easy to put on.

An upper for an article of footwear, the upper including a base layer defining a least a portion of the upper and polymer threads stitched to the base layer. The polymer threads may include a core composed of a first material and a coating composed of a second material, where the melting point of the first material is higher than the melting point of the second material. The polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer by the coating of the polymer threads. The polymer threads may include one or more polymer thread sets stitched in pattern(s) on area(s) of an outer surface of the base layer to provide targeted characteristics to area(s) on the upper. In some embodiments, the polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer with heat and/or pressure.

A modular article of footwear comprises a sole structure having a foot-facing surface, a ground-engaging surface, and a peripheral side surface extending between the foot-facing surface and the ground-engaging surface. The peripheral side surface has at least one recess. The modular article of footwear includes an upper component, and a flange secured to the upper component and projecting therefrom. An inner surface of the flange fits against and is securable to the peripheral side surface of the sole structure with the flange in the at least one recess, and the upper component at least partially defining a foot-receiving cavity over the foot-facing surface. A method of manufacturing a customized article of footwear comprises receiving a request for an upper with a specified characteristic, and assembling the modular article of footwear having an upper in accordance with the request.

A bonded mesh composite panel can be used to form a three-dimensional upper shell that includes extensions used for double-lasting and/or to otherwise provide a shelf to support foam padding. The foam padding may be, e.g., a foam midsole. The extensions of the upper shell may be located in a lower portion of the shell and may be bonded to the foam midsole in a heel, midfoot and/or forefoot regions.

An article of footwear comprises a sole structure and an upper. The upper is connected to the sole structure to form an enclosure to at least partially receive a foot. The upper comprises a first panel, a second panel, a backing panel and fibers. The first panel and the second panel at least partially form the enclosure. The backing panel is located within the enclosure along surfaces of the first and second panels. The fibers extend from the backing panel and are mechanically embedded in the first and second panels so that at least some of the fibers are partially disposed outside the enclosure.

Aspects herein are directed to an upper, an article of footwear incorporating the same, and methods of forming the upper, where the upper includes a knit collar, a knit tongue tab that is integrally knit with the collar, and a knit heel tab that is integrally knit with the collar. At least a distal-most extent of the knit tongue tab extends away from a longitudinal midline reference plane of the upper toward a first side of the upper, and at least a distal-most extent of the knit heel tab extends away from the longitudinal midline reference plane of the upper toward a second side of the upper, where the second side is opposite the first side.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a knitted component for use in an article of footwear may include a first layer with a multi-bed first area having a first surface and an opposite facing second surface. The knitted component may include a second layer with a second area overlapping the first area. The second area may have a first surface and an opposite facing second surface. The knitted component may include a plurality of interlayer knit stitches interlooping at least one yarn of the first layer with at least one yarn of the second layer at an interface between the second surfaces of the first and second areas. The interior surfaces of the first area and the second area may define at least part of a freely separable area between the first and second areas.