Aspects hereof relate to a holding fixture for holding portions of a shoe during painting. The fixture has a lower jig and an upper jig. The lower jig has an outer wall from which a contacting surface extends. The contacting surface is sized to apply a compressive force to the midsole along a desired paint line, and prevents paint from moving onto the midsole below the contacting surface. The top jig has a lower surface configured to be placed in contact with the top surface of the midsole when the midsole is held in the lower jig and is shaped to apply a downward and outward force on the midsole at an edge defined by the top surface of the midsole and the outer perimeter surface of the midsole, to thereby prevent paint from moving onto the top surface of the shoe portion.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

A shoe includes an upper body covering at least an instep of a foot. The upper body includes a main material formed of a first thread body made of a chemically-similar material. At least a part of the main material is an embroidered portion formed by embroidering and/or sewing with a second thread body made of a chemically-similar material having a melting point lower than a melting point of the chemically-similar material. At least a part of the embroidered portion is a solidified portion having a high hardness.

A shoe includes an upper body covering at least an instep of a foot. The upper body includes a main material formed of a first thread body made of a chemically-similar material. At least a part of the main material is an embroidered portion formed by embroidering and/or sewing with a second thread body made of a chemically-similar material having a melting point lower than a melting point of the chemically-similar material. At least a part of the embroidered portion is a solidified portion having a high hardness.

A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes a first portion including a lateral side and a medial side that opposes the lateral side, and a second portion connected with and extending upward and transversely outward in an angled manner away from the first portion such that a terminal end of the second portion is distanced from the first portion. An exterior surface of the last can include a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

An upper for an article of footwear includes a spray formed first layer including a first material, and a second layer including a second material, the second layer being adhered to the first layer. A transition zone is defined at a transition between the first layer and the second layer, and the transition zone includes a mixture of the first and second materials.

A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a first material layer over a shoe last, providing a second material layer over the first material layer such that the first and second material layers adhere to each other at an interface between the first and second material layers, where one or both of the first material layer and second material layer is provided by spray forming a polymer material onto the last. The material layers are removed from the last and turned inside out such that the first material layer includes an exposed surface that forms an exterior surface of the upper.

Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. The sequins may be stitched to a layer of an article in a pattern to form a relatively rigid structure. The sequins may be made of a hotmelt material and melted to form a continuous structure. The sequins may be located along a lacing region and used as eyelets to secure laces.