A waterproof and moisture-permeable shoe upper includes a fabric upper layer, a waterproof and moisture-permeable membrane material middle layer, and an inner fabric lower layer. The fabric upper layer has anti-wicking treatment, and the waterproof and moisture-permeable membrane material middle layer is made of degradable thermoplastic elastomer. The upper layer, the middle layer of the waterproof and moisture-permeable membrane material, and the lower layer of the inner fabric are laminated through high temperature and hot pressing to form a wide-width layered composite material. Then the wide-width layered composite material is cut or hot pressed to form an upper, and the anti-wicking index of the shoe upper ≤1 cm/ In 2 hours, the moisture permeability of the shoe upper is greater than or equal to 10,000 g/(m.sup.2.Math.24 h), and the hydrostatic pressure of the shoe upper is greater than or equal to 10,000 mmH.sub.2O.

Embodiments of the present instant disclosure relate to a puncture resistant sole for a footwear article. The puncture resistant sole includes an insole and outsole. The outsole includes a formation of cleat protrusions and first polymer composition. The cleat protrusions includes a second polymer composition and are removable. The first polymer composition and the second polymer composition each includes graphene sheets dispersed therein. The graphene sheets includes an X-ray diffraction pattern displaying no signature corresponding to graphite or graphite oxide. The insole includes a third polymer composition that includes the graphene sheets dispersed therein. The graphene sheets include an oxygen-containing functional group. The first polymer composition, second polymer composition, and/or third polymer composition includes a tensile strength of 50 lbs. per square inch or greater. The first polymer composition, second polymer composition, and/or third polymer composition comprises a thermal insulation value of at least 0.12 clo.

A footwear upper and a top portion for an article of footwear are provided. The footwear upper can include an outward facing portion formed from a polyester yarn and an inward facing portion formed from a combination of polyester yarn and ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) yarn. The inward facing portion can be directly coupled to the outward facing portion. Further, the top portion can include a weave of carbon polymer filler material plies. The plies can include weft plies and warp plies. The warp plies can follow a trajectory of a center of pressure of a foot within the article of footwear.

A method for manufacturing an integral shoe blank is provided. In the method, a reinforcement piece is woven by a flat knitting machine during a weave process, and the reinforcement piece is made unperceivable through a subsequent side overturning step when viewing from an exterior of a shoe. Thus, with the reinforcement piece, structural strength of the shoe blank is reinforced while better comfort is provided to the foot by a shoe manufactured from the shoe blank.

A method of producing a component for an article of footwear or apparel or a sporting goods accessory. The method of producing a component includes forming at least a first layer by braiding a first braided tube. Braiding may be performed with an empty braiding center. The method further includes arranging the first layer on a form.

A method of manufacturing an article may include loading a soluble bobbin thread into an embroidery machine and then driving a needle thread through a base sheet with a needle of the embroidery machine according to a programmed first pattern that provides a series of loops of the needle thread extending outward from a bobbin side of the base sheet. The method may further include bonding the needle thread to a needle side of the base sheet opposite from the bobbin side. A spacer layer may be disposed at the bobbin side of the base sheet, and may be removed after the needle thread is bonded to the base sheet. The loops may be loops of a hook-and-loop fastener or ball control features in various articles manufactured according to the method.

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.

A shoe including a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper including a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, the rear part including a top portion, reinforced by a firm material, an optional bottom portion reinforced by a firm material, a center portion, located between the top portion and the bottom portion, the center portion made of a flexible material, and a spring element. The top part of the spring element being attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the spring element being attached to either the bottom portion of the rear part, or to the sole.

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.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper. The upper includes a restrictive fabric portion. The restrictive fabric portion includes elastic and restrictive strands. A restrictive-side resistance index is greater than an elastic-side resistance index, when a tensile load is applied to the restrictive fabric portion in a direction of stretching the elastic and restrictive strands, where the restrictive-side resistance index is a ratio of an increase in tensile stress to an increase in rate of stretch of the restrictive strand, in a range in which a rate of stretch of the restrictive fabric portion is greater than a predetermined value, and the elastic-side resistance index is a ratio of an increase in tensile stress to an increase in rate of stretch of the elastic strand, in the range in which the rate of stretch of the restrictive fabric portion is greater than the predetermined value.