A heeled footwear such as a shoe or boot includes a sole assembly and a heel part, wherein the heel part includes an insert formed in a first material. The insert includes a core body delimited by an upper surface, a lower bottom surface, and an outer surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces. At least a part of the outer surface is encased/enclosed in a second material different from the first material. The outer material forms an outer contour layer of the heel part. The sole assembly includes an outsole formed in the second material, and the second material is softer than the first material. The outsole and the outer contour layer are designed to be formed in one piece providing an outer sole unit being one component.

A heeled footwear such as a shoe or boot includes a sole assembly and a heel part, wherein the heel part includes an insert formed in a first material. The insert includes a core body delimited by an upper surface, a lower bottom surface, and an outer surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces. At least a part of the outer surface is encased/enclosed in a second material different from the first material. The outer material forms an outer contour layer of the heel part. The sole assembly includes an outsole formed in the second material, and the second material is softer than the first material. The outsole and the outer contour layer are designed to be formed in one piece providing an outer sole unit being one component.

A convertible shoe may include a sole portion and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole portion. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole, such that mounting the heel causes a support shank of the shoe to be secured in a longitudinal position relative to the sole.

A convertible shoe may include a sole portion and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole portion. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole, such that mounting the heel causes a support shank of the shoe to be secured in a longitudinal position relative to the sole.

A shoe sole (1) includes a stability support plate (3) and a soft elastic midsole (2) having a forefoot area (VFB), a midfoot area (MFB) and a heel area (FB). The stability support plate is peripherally surrounded by the midsole and the midsole (2) has a clear space (21) open to the bottom side (U) of the midsole (2), which is peripherally surrounded substantially completely by the midsole (2) and is delimited by the stability support plate (3). The clear space (21) extends from the heel area (FB) over the midfoot area (MFB) into the forefoot area (VFB) of the midsole (2).

A shoe sole (1) includes a stability support plate (3) and a soft elastic midsole (2) having a forefoot area (VFB), a midfoot area (MFB) and a heel area (FB). The stability support plate is peripherally surrounded by the midsole and the midsole (2) has a clear space (21) open to the bottom side (U) of the midsole (2), which is peripherally surrounded substantially completely by the midsole (2) and is delimited by the stability support plate (3). The clear space (21) extends from the heel area (FB) over the midfoot area (MFB) into the forefoot area (VFB) of the midsole (2).

Insole (14) for a high-heeled shoe (4), wherein the insole (14) has proximally a first zone (1) provided for the purpose of supporting a heel of a foot and further has distally of the first zone a second zone (2) which is provided for the purpose of supporting a middle part of the foot, wherein the second zone is provided with a teardrop-shaped raised area (12) positioned such that a tail of the teardrop shape extends in proximal direction, wherein the first zone (1) has a thickness which increases gradually in distal direction such that a wedge shape is obtained which extends over at least sixty percent of the first zone (1).

Insole (14) for a high-heeled shoe (4), wherein the insole (14) has proximally a first zone (1) provided for the purpose of supporting a heel of a foot and further has distally of the first zone a second zone (2) which is provided for the purpose of supporting a middle part of the foot, wherein the second zone is provided with a teardrop-shaped raised area (12) positioned such that a tail of the teardrop shape extends in proximal direction, wherein the first zone (1) has a thickness which increases gradually in distal direction such that a wedge shape is obtained which extends over at least sixty percent of the first zone (1).

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a midfoot region of the plate than at a forefoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A plate for an article of footwear includes a substrate, a first strand portion attached to the substrate via first stitching, and a second strand portion disposed on the first layer. The first strand portion includes first segments that each extend between two different locations along the substrate to form a first layer on the substrate. The second strand portion includes second segments that each extend between two different locations along the substrate to form a second layer on the first layer.