Waterproof, breathable socks, booties, shoe inserts, and footwear assemblies containing the shoe inserts are provided. The booties and shoe inserts include a laminate of a seamless ePTFE membrane and at least one textile. The bootie is conformable over a range of sizes and shoe shapes, and may be shaped to fit numerous sizes and shapes of asymmetrical shoe lasts. The bootie may shrink to fit, or, alternatively, be stretched to fit, an asymmetrical last having a desired size to form a shoe insert. Such a conformable bootie eliminates the need to have multiple sizes of shoe inserts correlating to particular shoe sizes. In embodiments where the ePTFE is seamless and continuous, the shoe insert eliminates the need for a waterproof seam tape, which is conventionally used to make shoe inserts waterproof. Methods of forming the socks, booties, and shoe inserts are also provided.

A multi-ply shockproof, hygroscopic and breathable shoe pad includes, from bottom to top in succession: a support bottom layer (1), wherein a lower end face of the support bottom layer (1) is provided with a plurality of protruding portions (5), an upper end face of the support bottom layer (1) is provided with air holes (6), and the protruding portions (5) and the air holes (6) are alternately arranged; an elastic interlayer (2), wherein the elastic interlayer (2) is provided with air holes (6), and is coated with an antibacterial deodorization layer; a hygroscopic interlayer (3), wherein the hygroscopic interlayer (3) is provided with air holes (6), and is coated with an antibacterial deodorization layer; and a breathable waterproof layer (4) coated with an antibacterial deodorization layer; and the support bottom layer (1), the elastic interlayer (2), the hygroscopic interlayer (3), and the breathable waterproof layer (4) are successively bonded.

An improved method of manufacturing footwear includes lasting a lining and an upper material over a last board, such that the lining extends further over the last board and the upper material. Stitching and/or adhesive may be used to attach the lining and the upper material to one another. A gasket substantially covering the last board, the outside is then utilized. The gasket may include a web substrate and a thermoplastic adhesive. The lining may include one or two membranes that may be laminated between a tricot abrasion layer and a face fabric and/or insulation if required.

A method of making a moisture-permeable and waterproof vamp includes: (a) providing inner and outer fabric layers, each of the inner and outer fabric layers having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) forming a moisture-permeable and waterproof resin layer on one of the bottom surface of the outer fabric layer and the top surface of the inner fabric layer; (c) attaching the resin layer to the other one of the bottom surface of the outer fabric layer and the top surface of the inner fabric layer so as to obtain a fabric laminate; (d) cutting and forming the fabric laminate into a vamp that is formed with at least one seam; and (e) applying a waterproof treatment to the seam.

A method of making a moisture-permeable and waterproof vamp for a shoe includes: coating a resin material on a release paper; solidifying the resin material to form a moisture-permeable and waterproof resin layer on an outer fabric layer so that the release paper is separated from the outer fabric layer; removing the release paper; attaching an inner fabric layer to the outer fabric layer so as to form a moisture-permeable and waterproof fabric laminate; cutting and forming the moisture-permeable and waterproof fabric laminate into a vamp that is formed with seams and provided with a receiving space adapted for receiving a user's foot; and applying a waterproof treatment to the seams.

A footwear includes an upper attached to a sole. The upper includes an outer layer and an inner membrane. The outer layer has a lower end. The lower end of the outer layer has an outer layer lower edge. The membrane includes a lower end of the membrane. The lower end of the membrane has a lower edge of the membrane. The membrane (MEM) is suspended within the footwear between an upper circumference of the upper and a lower anchoring circumference by means of an anchoring adhesive. The lower end of the membrane is stitched to the insole along a lower circumference. The upper circumference is lower than the top edge of the footwear.

Disclosed are a vamp construction and a method of vamp construction utilizing multiple layers in a multi-part vamp. This construction provides increased flexibility and comfort, more efficient material utilization, and aesthetic appeal. More specifically, the vamp includes a layer of vamp material, a layer of fabric, and a layer of elastic material.

Composite materials are described herein. An example composite material may comprise a shell fiber layer. The example composite material may comprise a membrane disposed adjacent the shell fiber layer.

A shoe according to the invention comprises an upper assembly comprising an upper portion (10) having an outer material (11) for surrounding a foot and a lower portion (20) having at least a breathable layer (21). The shoe also comprises a sole comprising a ventilating container element (113) having a bottom part (103) and a side wall (102) surrounding said bottom part (103) so as to form an inner space of the ventilating container element (113), the ventilating container element being arranged below and attached to the upper assembly, and a filler structure or material (61; 62; 63; 64; 65; 112) allowing for air flow through it placed in the inner space of the ventilating container element (113).

Item of footwear (100) having an upper arrangement (112) and a sole (114), wherein the upper arrangement (112) has a top material (116) and on air-permeable layer (140) arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer (140) is arranged above the sole (114), in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement (112), the air-permeable layer (140) has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material (116) of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material (210) which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer (140) and running outside the air-permeable layer (140), is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer (140), and thus connects the air-permeable layer (140) to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer (140).