A method of manufacturing an article of footwear from a flat pattern is provided. The method includes cutting a first cut in a first material through the top surface (502) and the bottom surface of the first material. The method continues with coupling an overlay (500) on the first material top surface (502) such that the overlay (500) extends over the first cut and obscures the first material top surface (502). The method continues with forming the flat pattern having the first material with the first cut and the overlay (500) into a dimensional article of footwear configured to receive a foot. The first material bottom surface is more interior to the dimensional article of footwear than the top surface (502).

A method and apparatus for printing on an article are disclosed. An embodiment of a method may include the generation of a virtual mask that can designate areas for printing and/or designate areas to exclude from printing. A method may include utilization of the virtual mask during either 2D or 3D printing such that a print design is printed in areas designated for printing by the virtual mask.

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 moisture-permeable waterproof shoe includes an upper unit and a shoe-shaped inner sleeve. The upper unit includes a top cut piece and a bottom cut piece. The top cut piece has a rear concave edge with two spaced-apart first ends, a peripheral edge with two spaced-apart second ends, and two rear mating edges each interconnecting one of the first ends and a respective second end. The peripheral edge of the top cut piece is sewn to a periphery of the bottom cut piece. The top and bottom cut pieces cooperate to define an interior space. The inner sleeve is disposed in the interior space. A connecting layer is fixed between an inner surface of the upper unit and an outer surface of the inner sleeve. A sole is fixed to a bottom portion of the upper unit.

An upper for a shoe includes a woven element comprising at least one single-layer portion and at least one multi-layer portion, wherein the single-layer portion is formed from a single woven layer and the multi-layer portion is formed from at least two overlapping woven layers, wherein the at least one single-layer portion is adjacent to the at least one multi-layer portion, and wherein the multi-layer portion comprises at least one protrusion of the woven element.

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.

Aspects herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. The braided articles may include articles of footwear having braided uppers. The braided uppers may include a base yarn and a high performance yarn. The high performance yarn may form a braided structure within the braided upper. The braided structure may be continuously braided to provide continuous support to a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn as intended, by a wearer. Additionally, the high performance yarn may be configured to exit the braided upper and re-enter the braided upper to form a plurality of arcuate loops along the throat area of the braided article of footwear for accommodating a lace for further adjustment of the fit of the article of footwear on the wearer's foot, when worn.

An article of footwear may include an upper having an extended portion. The extended portion extends from a first side of the upper. The extended portion may pass below the upper of the article of footwear to the second side. The extended portion may be secured in multiple positions to adjust the fit of an article of footwear. The extended portion may incorporate a tensile element.

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 be at least partially formed with a knitted component. The knitted component may include a first knitted portion and a second knitted portion, where the first knitted portion at least partially forms at least one of a medial side, a lateral side, and a toe area of the upper, and where the second knitted portion forms a tongue area of the upper. The second knitted portion may include a first end and a second end where one of the first end is secured to the first knitted portion via a common knit structure.