Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing an article of footwear having a sole and an upper coupled to the sole, the upper comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, and an open inner portion. The open inner portion is disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion and is void of any material that forms a portion of the upper. The open inner portion provides an opening in the upper that allows sliding the toes of a user's foot inwardly at an angle into the toe portion, whereafter the footwear and/or the heel of a user's foot can be rotated to engage the heel of the user's foot with the heel portion. The footwear optionally includes an open outer portion and a fastening mechanism which articulates to provide even pressure distribution across a user's foot for maximum comfort and stability.

An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or mom of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.

An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.

In a shoe, an upper has an opening through which a foot of a wearer is inserted when the wearer puts on the shoe, and includes a shoelace tightening region located forward of the opening. A tape member is higher in rigidity than the upper body. A first portion is located in the shoelace tightening region and extends in a front-rear direction of the upper. A folded portion is contiguous to at least one of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the first portion. The folded portion is formed by folding the tape member downward when viewed from the first portion. A second portion extends downward from the folded portion. The first portion is sewn onto the upper body such that gaps through which a shoelace passes are provided between the first portion and the upper body.