Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a device for adapting a footwear to the specific deformations of the foot of a user, including creating 3D scans of the foot in weight bearing and non-weight bearing positions, as well as of the footwear; determining rubbing areas between the foot and the footwear by means of superimposing the scanned 3D image of the footwear and the scanned 3D images of the weight bearing and the non-weight bearing foot; obtaining a final out-of-phase 3D image of the non-weight bearing foot, wherein the rubbing areas in this image are moved out of phase until they reach an intermediate position selected between a minimum and a maximum limit; printing the part of the heel and the part of the forefoot from the final out-of-phase 3D image. Finally, fitting a flexible element for joining together the part of the heel and the part of the forefoot.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a device for adapting a footwear to the specific deformations of the foot of a user, including creating 3D scans of the foot in weight bearing and non-weight bearing positions, as well as of the footwear; determining rubbing areas between the foot and the footwear by means of superimposing the scanned 3D image of the footwear and the scanned 3D images of the weight bearing and the non-weight bearing foot; obtaining a final out-of-phase 3D image of the non-weight bearing foot, wherein the rubbing areas in this image are moved out of phase until they reach an intermediate position selected between a minimum and a maximum limit; printing the part of the heel and the part of the forefoot from the final out-of-phase 3D image. Finally, fitting a flexible element for joining together the part of the heel and the part of the forefoot.

A shoe last and shoe sole are provided, an underside of the shoe last comprising a forefoot cavity and a heel cavity, the shoe sole comprising a forefoot pad and a heel pad. The forefoot cavity is adapted to receive the forefoot pad. The heel cavity is adapted to receive the heel pad. A method of centering the sole on the shoe last comprises the steps of providing the shoe last and shoe sole; providing a shoe upper; positioning the shoe last in the shoe upper; using the forefoot pad and heel pad, centering the shoe last on the sole such that an upper portion of the upper heel pad nests within the heel cavity and an upper portion of the forward heel pad nests within the forefoot cavity; attaching the shoe upper to the sole; and removing the shoe last from the shoe upper.

A shoe last and shoe sole are provided, an underside of the shoe last comprising a forefoot cavity and a heel cavity, the shoe sole comprising a forefoot pad and a heel pad. The forefoot cavity is adapted to receive the forefoot pad. The heel cavity is adapted to receive the heel pad. A method of centering the sole on the shoe last comprises the steps of providing the shoe last and shoe sole; providing a shoe upper; positioning the shoe last in the shoe upper; using the forefoot pad and heel pad, centering the shoe last on the sole such that an upper portion of the upper heel pad nests within the heel cavity and an upper portion of the forward heel pad nests within the forefoot cavity; attaching the shoe upper to the sole; and removing the shoe last from the shoe upper.

A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.

A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.

A method for waterproofing footwear (2), the footwear (2) including an upper assembly (4) having an outer construction (6) and a sole (8), includes providing a waterproof, breathable bootie (10) having a waterproof, breathable laminate construction, the waterproof, breathable laminate construction comprising a functional layer (54) and at least one textile layer (56, 58); inserting the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) into an inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8), when the outer construction (6) and the sole (8) are in an assembled state; and fixing the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) in position in the inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8).

A method for waterproofing footwear (2), the footwear (2) including an upper assembly (4) having an outer construction (6) and a sole (8), includes providing a waterproof, breathable bootie (10) having a waterproof, breathable laminate construction, the waterproof, breathable laminate construction comprising a functional layer (54) and at least one textile layer (56, 58); inserting the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) into an inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8), when the outer construction (6) and the sole (8) are in an assembled state; and fixing the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) in position in the inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8).

A last matching a user's foot can be provided through a simple configuration. A last for forming a footwear upper configuring an article of footwear comprises: a common portion invariable in shape and position, a movable portion invariable in shape and positionally variable with respect to the common portion, and a position adjustment mechanism that changes a position of the movable portion with respect to the common portion and fixes the movable portion in a predetermined position.

A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.