There is provided a user-dedicated last that can be easily manufactured without using large-scale equipment. A last for forming a footwear upper configuring an article of footwear comprises a foot length forming member defining a shape of the last at least in the lengthwise direction of the article of footwear, and a plurality of foot width forming members defining a shape of the last at least in the widthwise direction of the article of footwear and assembled to the foot length forming member.

The present invention provides a method (200) of modifying a shoe-last, comprising: acquiring (201) current digital data representing a foot shape; providing (202) reference digital data representing a shoe-last shape to be modified; comparing (203) the current digital data with the reference digital data to design patch shapes and patch positions; providing a shoe-last corresponding to the reference digital data; producing (204) patch elements corresponding to the patch shapes; and applying (204) the patch elements on the shoe-last in accordance with the patch positions obtaining a modified shoe-last. The production and the application of the patch elements on the shoe-last are performed by employing an additive manufacturing technique.

A last extension for a shoe last provides a pattern defining an origin location. The origin location on the last extension can be used to identify locations or points on a last or a shoe component on a last for control of location-critical manufacturing operations, including decorative and functional operations.

A last includes a first part having a first plate-shaped portion and a second part having a second part-side receiving portion having a cutout shape. When the first plate-shaped portion is received in the second part-side receiving portion, the first part and the second part are assembled. The second part includes a second part-side engaging portion having a protruding shape on an inner side surface in a portion defining the second part-side receiving portion, and the first plate-shaped portion has a main surface with a first part-side to-be-engaged portion having a through hole shape or a recessed shape. When the first plate-shaped portion is inserted into the second part-side receiving portion, the first plate-shaped portion is fitted into the second part-side receiving portion, and the first part-side to-be-engaged portion is engaged by the second part-side engaging portion.

A last extension for a shoe last provides a pattern defining an origin location. The origin location on the last extension can be used to identify locations or points on a last or a shoe component on a last for control of location-critical manufacturing operations, including decorative and functional operations.

The present invention provides a method (200) of modifying a shoe-last, comprising: acquiring (201) current digital data representing a foot shape; providing (202) reference digital data representing a shoe-last shape to be modified; comparing (203) the current digital data with the reference digital data to design patch shapes and patch positions; providing a shoe-last corresponding to the reference digital data; producing (204) patch elements corresponding the patch shapes: and applying (204) the patch elements on the shoe-last in accordance with the patch positions obtaining a modified shoe-last. The production and the application of the patch elements on the shoe-last are performed by employing an additive manufacturing technique.

According to a last, in a forming surface for forming a shoe upper, at least a portion of a specific region corresponding to an upper end portion of a to-be-formed portion of the shoe upper is defined by a plurality of plate-shaped parts included in a plurality of last forming parts. By arranging the plate-shaped parts to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of an upper end portion of the shoe upper, a portion of the specific region that is defined by the plate-shaped parts is defined by an end surface of each of the plate-shaped parts. A recessed portion as a mark used for alignment with the last during overlaying of the shoe upper is in the portion of the specific region that is defined by the plate-shaped parts.

A last includes a base part including a bottom and a plurality of additional parts, each of which is formed in a plate shape and is capable of being assembled to the base part. The base part includes a mounting unit and a first forming surface. The plurality of additional parts include a second forming surface. Each additional part has an end face. The second forming surface includes the end face of each of the plurality of additional parts. The base part includes a first base member including a mounting unit and a second base member attachable to and detachable from the first base member.

A method of method of manufacturing customized inserts for a boot, such as a skate boot, that is at least partially thermoformable includes receiving numerical data corresponding to a tridimensional shape of a wearer's foot, and manufacturing a medial side insert and a lateral side insert based on the tridimensional shape of the wearer's foot. The medial side insert and the lateral side insert are shaped to be insertable into the boot with a core that is dimensioned to generally correspond to a foot size of the boot, with a medial internal surface of the medial side insert and a lateral internal surface of the lateral side insert abutting respective outer surfaces of the core.

A method of making an article of footwear may include applying an environmental pressure differential across a sheet of upper material to conform the sheet of upper material to a portion of a footwear last, thereby forming at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear. In addition, the method may include assembling the article of footwear including fixedly attaching the upper of the article of footwear to a sole structure.