Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. Sequins can be arranged in various patterns. Sequins can be arranged in dispersive patterns. Sequin patterns can be used to create gradients on the outside of an upper. The sequins can be used to attach two layers where the density of the sequins used to attach the layers can affect thermal properties, flexibility and relative motion between the layers.

An upper for a sports shoe includes a plurality of areas. The areas include a medial area, a lateral area, a toe area, an instep area, a heel area, and a collar area. The upper includes at least one protrusion in at least four of the plurality of areas. The protrusions protrude from an outer surface of the upper.

A shoe may include an upper portion constructed from a continuous textile (e.g., a knit textile) that includes multiple regions having different textile properties to improve the performance of the shoe, including durability and comfort. In some cases, the multi-region upper portion may include regions having different thickness and/or flexibility based on a location relative to a wearer's foot to better support the wearer's foot. For example, the multi-region upper portion may include a reinforcement region having a first thickness and a flex region having a second thickness less than the first thickness. As another example, the multi-region upper portion may include a reinforcement region having a first stiffness and a flex region having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a shoe upper, including the steps of: providing at least one stretchable portion on the shoe upper; stretching the at least one stretchable portion of the shoe upper for adapting a size of the shoe upper; and permanently attaching at least one rigid element at least partly on the stretched stretchable portion so that the stretched stretchable portion is locked.

An article of footwear provides improved stability and support by incorporating a strap to overlay over an instep area of an upper component that is comprised of a knitted material. The strap includes engagement members on an underside of the strap that engage ribbing structures that are part of the knitted material on an outer surface of the instep area. By engaging with the ribbing structures, the strap provides improved stability and support.

A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise a tensioning member secured to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable, and a. floating overlay attached to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable. The tensioning members can comprise an elastic member. The tensioning members can be configured to provide a stiff lockout zone and an elastic stretch zone.

In one aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element, a collar area configured to form an ankle opening, and a cuff in the collar area. The cuff may be at least partially formed by the knit element and may include a ribbed knit structure of the knit element. In another aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element with a first area, the first area including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side may be formed of at least 30% more material than the second side such that the first area is configured to curve convexly away from the first side.

A rapid-entry shoe having a sole portion and a rebounding portion being comprised of the same material and being a unified structure. The rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration in which a perimeter of the topline is expanded and an uncollapsed configuration in which the perimeter of the topline is unexpanded, and the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration.

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a cord structure including interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article, and further including an anchor cord extending along the portion of the footwear article and parallel to the loop line. The rand cord may couple to the anchor cord. In this way, the cord structure may be tensioned independently of other upper materials.

Comfortable, protective, durable, and lightweight footwear with minimal component parts. Both the footwear and the method of constructing the same is streamlined.