A shoe may include an upper portion constructed from a continuous textile (e.g., a knit textile) that includes an elastic region and a structural region. The elastic region may be positioned about a perimeter of an opening into a cavity configured to receive a wearer's foot, and the elastic region may be configured to secure the shoe to a wearer's foot. The elastic region may have a first elasticity that is greater than a second elasticity of the structural region. In an unworn configuration, the elastic region may cause a tread surface of a sole of the shoe to have a continuous curvature. In a worn configuration, substantially all of an intermediate section of the tread surface may contact a surface on which the shoe is placed. The elastic region may improve the performance of the shoe, including the comfort and durability.

An article of apparel includes at least one fabric panel including a first yarn having a first denier and a second yarn having a second denier. The first yarn forms an auxetic structure on the fabric panel comprising a pattern of interconnected segments defining cells, each cell having an interior area. The second yarn forms a fill portion extending between the interconnected segments of the auxetic structure and substantially fills the interior area of each cell.

Described are shoe uppers for a sports shoe with a first layer with a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first yarn section with a first diameter, wherein the first yarn section is arranged on the first surface of the first layer, and a second yarn section with a second diameter, wherein the second yarn section is arranged on the first surface of the first layer. The first yarn section and the second yarn section have at least one parallel portion in which the first yarn section is substantially parallel to the second yarn section, and wherein a distance between the first yarn section and the second yarn section is smaller than a larger value of the first diameter and the second diameter.

A rapid-entry shoe having a heel arm configured to transition between a collapsed configuration, for easy donning and doffing of the shoe, and an uncollapsed configuration, for securing a foot inside the shoe, the shoe having a resilient member configured to bias the heel arm toward the uncollapsed configuration.

An article of footwear including a sole, an upper joined with the sole, and a lacing system. The lacing system is configured to secure the footwear to the wearer's foot and includes a lace support embroidered to the upper. The lace support has a plurality of turns forming at least one loops disposed on an exterior surface of the upper.

An upper for an article of footwear includes an upper body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The upper body defines a throat between the first side and the second side. Further, the upper body defines an opening extending through the second side. The upper includes a lace extending across the throat between the first side and the second side. The upper further includes a dynamic support coupled to the upper body at the first side. The dynamic support extends across the throat from the first side to the second side. The dynamic support extends through the opening formed in the second side. The lace is attached to the dynamic support at the second side to apply tension on the dynamic support toward the second side when the lace is tightened.

The invention is a high heel shoe with an upper that will provide comfort and flexibility for the wearer. In a preferred embodiment the upper consists of two at least two materials: 1) a firm fabric, such as leather, that will hold the shape of the design and have limited flexibility; 2) a flat knitted elastic, such as knit elastic, which will not narrow, or not narrow significantly, when stretched. In addition, the firm fabric is configured to have a flex-point and in a preferred embodiment is formed of two pieces of the firm material having a “split” between them providing the desired flex-point.

An upper for an article of footwear may include a first knit layer, a second knit layer, and a third layer located between the first knit layer and the second knit layer, the third layer including a material with a melting point of 150° C. or less, where the first knit layer and the second knit layer are secured via the material of the third layer. A first zone may be included, where the first knit layer, the second knit layer, and the third layer are coextensive in the first zone. A second zone may be included, where the first knit layer, the second knit layer, and the third layer are coextensive in the second zone. The first zone may have a first stretch resistance and the second zone may have a second stretch resistance, where the first stretch resistance is greater than the second stretch resistance.

Disclosed is a shoe having a compressible lattice structure in a heel portion to facilitate rapid, easy donning and doffing of shoes. In example embodiments, the lattice structure includes a plurality of interconnected, overlapping, intersecting and/or woven ribs defining a plurality of apertures. The lattice structure has an open position in which the shoe opening is expanded to facilitate reception of a foot of an individual wearing the rapid-entry shoe, and a closed position in which the shoe opening is smaller to retain the foot within the rapid-entry shoe.

A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.