A sock shoe has a single layer of base fabric having a volumetric configuration for receiving at least a forefoot portion of a user's foot. The sock shoe is configured with an upper portion for receiving a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion for receiving a bottom portion of the user's foot. The base fabric has a knit or woven structure that is resiliently elastic. An elastomeric coating is fused to the base fabric in a single-layer unitary structure to provide at least two of: (i) a retention function, (ii) a durability/foot protection function, (iii) a grip or anti-slip function, and (iv) an outsole function. The bottom portion having an outer-facing, ground-contacting surface and an inner-facing, foot-contacting surface, the ground-contacting surface including at least one outsole portion being formed of the fused elastomeric material, and the inner-facing, foot-contacting surface being formed of the fused elastomeric material.

A shoe structure includes an upper assembly, having an upper and an insole, a bottom, joined in a lower region to the upper assembly and including a sole and a midsole, the sole having a tread. The sole includes one or more tabs monolithic therewith, directed toward the midsole.

An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.

A method for manufacturing an integral shoe blank is provided. In the method, a reinforcement piece is woven by a flat knitting machine during a weave process, and the reinforcement piece is made unperceivable through a subsequent side overturning step when viewing from an exterior of a shoe. Thus, with the reinforcement piece, structural strength of the shoe blank is reinforced while better comfort is provided to the foot by a shoe manufactured from the shoe blank.

A method for manufacturing an integral shoe blank is provided. In the method, a reinforcement piece is woven by a flat knitting machine during a weave process, and the reinforcement piece is made unperceivable through a subsequent side overturning step when viewing from an exterior of a shoe. Thus, with the reinforcement piece, structural strength of the shoe blank is reinforced while better comfort is provided to the foot by a shoe manufactured from the shoe blank.

An article of footwear comprising a knitted component and a containment piece are disclosed. The containment piece can be a textile element that in some aspects is also knitted. The containment piece is provided on a medial side of the article of footwear, where one end of the containment piece is secured to the sole structure, and the other end is secured to the knitted component via one or more containment piece lacing loops and one or more lacing loops of the knitted component. The one or more lacing loops of the knitted component and the one or more containment piece lacing loops can be formed from an inlaid tensile strand. A method of manufacturing the knitted component and the containment piece is also described herein.

An article of footwear comprising a knitted component and a containment piece are disclosed. The containment piece can be a textile element that in some aspects is also knitted. The containment piece is provided on a medial side of the article of footwear, where one end of the containment piece is secured to the sole structure, and the other end is secured to the knitted component via one or more containment piece lacing loops and one or more lacing loops of the knitted component. The one or more lacing loops of the knitted component and the one or more containment piece lacing loops can be formed from an inlaid tensile strand. A method of manufacturing the knitted component and the containment piece is also described herein.

Present aspects are directed to an interlocking braided shoe and midsole system comprising a midsole insert having a plurality of protruding studs and a braided upper comprising a tubular containment structure. The tubular containment structure has a first zone comprising a first braid density and first braid configuration defining a plurality of apertures located on a top surface of the braided upper and a second zone having a second braid density and a second braid configuration defining a plurality of apertures located on the bottom surface of the braided upper. The plurality of apertures of the second braid configuration correspond to the plurality of protruding studs such that the plurality of protruding studs extend below an exterior surface of the braided upper through the plurality of apertures of the second braided configuration, coupling the bottom surface of the midsole insert with the braided upper.

Present aspects are directed to an interlocking braided shoe and midsole system comprising a midsole insert having a plurality of protruding studs and a braided upper comprising a tubular containment structure. The tubular containment structure has a first zone comprising a first braid density and first braid configuration defining a plurality of apertures located on a top surface of the braided upper and a second zone having a second braid density and a second braid configuration defining a plurality of apertures located on the bottom surface of the braided upper. The plurality of apertures of the second braid configuration correspond to the plurality of protruding studs such that the plurality of protruding studs extend below an exterior surface of the braided upper through the plurality of apertures of the second braided configuration, coupling the bottom surface of the midsole insert with the braided upper.

An article of apparel includes a multilayered knit fabric structure. The knit fabric structure includes a first knit layer and a second knit layer, and a resilient intermediate knit layer disposed between and coupling with the first knit layer and the second knit layer. The intermediate knit layer has a corrugated shape along a first direction of the intermediate knit layer with consecutive peaks that are oriented in opposing directions such that the peaks comprise a set of first peaks oriented in a first peak direction and a set of second peaks oriented in a second peak direction that opposes the first peak direction. The first peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the first knit layer and the second peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the second knit layer.