A method of making a steaming apparatus for an article of footwear includes providing a set of sheets and applying a series of welds and cuts to the sheets. The resulting steaming apparatus can have a steaming chamber adjoined to a plurality of wing portions. The apparatus also includes provisions for securing the article of footwear within the steaming chamber such that a majority of the upper is subjected to steam. Articles of footwear may be placed in the steaming system to help customize the articles of apparel for a user's fit and comfort.

Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

A method for assembling shoe components includes the steps of: providing at least two shoe components, a shoe last and a film unit; placing the at least two shoe components on an outer surface of the shoe last; removably covering an assembly of the at least two shoe components and the shoe last with the film unit such that the film unit and the shoe last cooperatively define a confining space therebetween; and pumping air out of the confining space and heating the at least two shoe components to shrink and deform the film unit so as to press the at least two shoe components to adhere tightly to each other.

A warming rack for holding footwear includes a base and an array of support posts supported by the base. The base defines a length extending between a first end and a second end and a width between a pair of opposing side edges. The array of support posts is configured to retain multiple articles of footwear above the base. Each support posts includes a first portion extending from a proximal end in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the base to a bend line, and a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first direction from the bend line to a terminal end. The second portion is configured to retain a corresponding article of footwear in a fixed position when the second portion is received by an interior void of the footwear.

A method of making a steaming apparatus for an article of footwear includes providing a set of sheets and applying a series of welds and cuts to the sheets. The resulting steaming apparatus can have a steaming chamber adjoined to a plurality of wing portions. The apparatus also includes provisions for securing the article of footwear within the steaming chamber such that a majority of the upper is subjected to steam. Articles of footwear may be placed in the steaming system to help customize the articles of apparel for a user's fit and comfort.

A steaming apparatus for an article of footwear includes a steaming chamber adjoined to a plurality of wing portions. The steaming apparatus is configured to accommodate a steam source. The apparatus also includes provisions for securing the article of footwear within the steaming chamber such that a majority of the upper is subjected to steam. Articles of footwear may be placed in the steaming system to help customize the articles of apparel for a user's fit and comfort.

A shoe including: an upper that includes a first layer made of knitted fabric and a second layer made of knitted fabric arranged inside the first layer, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer includes first yarns and second yarns as yarns for forming the knitted fabric, wherein the first yarns have a heat shrinkability, wherein the second yarns have a higher fusion point than that of the first yarns, and wherein the at least one of the first layer and the second layer including the first yarns and the second yarns has a higher heat shrinkage rate in a width direction than in a longitudinal direction.

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 warming rack for holding footwear includes a base and an array of support posts supported by the base. The base defines a length extending between a first end and a second end and a width between a pair of opposing side edges. The array of support posts is configured to retain multiple articles of footwear above the base. Each support posts includes a first portion extending from a proximal end in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the base to a bend line, and a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first direction from the bend line to a terminal end. The second portion is configured to retain a corresponding article of footwear in a fixed position when the second portion is received by an interior void of the footwear.

A hydraulic/pneumatic footwear molding device includes a foot shaped elastic capsule filling of fluid, pressurized by a pressurizing unit sealed and connected at the rear end of the elastic capsule. The elastic capsule is placed in the inner cavity of a lattice frame. When the liquid is used as the internal fluid medium of the elastic capsule and the pressurizing unit is in the form of an electric heating device capable of moving up and down, not only the pressurization of the liquid can be realized by the up-down movement of pressurizing unit to expand the elastic capsule, but also the heat molding can be achieved by heating the liquid as an electric iron.