Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for making a shoe outsole and to shoe outsoles made using such techniques. In one such technique, a sheet of composite material is produced by extruding a base material together with a sheet of fabric material. The sheet of composite material is then cut into an outsole component, and a shoe outsole is fabricated using the outsole component.

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for making a shoe outsole and to shoe outsoles made using such techniques. In one such technique, a sheet of composite material is produced by extruding a base material together with a sheet of fabric material. The sheet of composite material is then cut into an outsole component, and a shoe outsole is fabricated using the outsole component.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a porous midsole the method including: a cotton-beating step (S1) of forming a midsole base (10) having porous voids 16 by mixing low melting fibers (12) and high melting fibers (14); and a thermoforming step (S2) of bonding and fixing the high melting fibers into a compressed state by the melt adhesive strength of the low melting fibers (12) by compressively thermoforming the midsole base (10) at a melting point temperature of the low melting fibers (12).

A method for fabrication of one or more components of an article of footwear is provided. In one example, the method includes fabricating a mixture of polyurethane (PU) precursors and coffee grounds of a first size using a two-step mixing, and then injection molding one or more components of the article of footwear using the mixture, the one or more components of the article of footwear formed of a coffee grounds-PU composite material.

Footwear articles are fabricated with materials and includes a structure that enable the articles to be non-toxic, natural, biodegradable, and/or environmentally-friendly. The structure of the footwear articles is configured for a user's foot, including aspects which allow for precision rigidity or flexibility within the footwear article. The footwear articles are capable of including cycling footwear articles. The cycling footwear articles are further capable of including aspects which provide enough rigidity to couple to clipless pedal systems on a bicycle, and other aspects which allow for a flexibility when walking. Methods of forming the footwear articles and related packaging systems are provided, which also utilize non-toxic, natural, biodegradable, and/or environmentally-friendly materials.

In the embodiments, sustainable wearable items are provided. In some embodiments, the sustainable wearable item can include an upper comprising an upper layer including an upper material selected from the group consisting of upcycled apple skin, sustainable satin, a combination of upcycled apple skin and tea bag recycled yarn, recycled polyamide yarn, and a combination of upcycled apple skin and recycled polyamide yarn, a lining including a material selected from the group consisting of upcycled apple skin and upcycled grape skin, and a first adhesive to bind the upper layer and the lining. In some embodiments, the sustainable wearable item can include a bottom comprising an insole including a material selected from the group consisting of upcycled apple skin and upcycled grape skin, an outsole including vegetable tanned leather, and a second adhesive to bind the insole and the outsole.

In the embodiments, sustainable wearable items are provided. In some embodiments, the sustainable wearable item can include an upper comprising an upper layer including an upper material selected from the group consisting of upcycled apple skin, sustainable satin, a combination of upcycled apple skin and tea bag recycled yarn, recycled polyamide yarn, and a combination of upcycled apple skin and recycled polyamide yarn, a lining including a material selected from the group consisting of upcycled apple skin and upcycled grape skin, and a first adhesive to bind the upper layer and the lining. In some embodiments, the sustainable wearable item can include a bottom comprising an insole including a material selected from the group consisting of upcycled apple skin and upcycled grape skin, an outsole including vegetable tanned leather, and a second adhesive to bind the insole and the outsole.

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.

A sustainable wearable item is provided. The sustainable wearable item comprising an outer layer comprising a plant-based material, an inner layer comprising a plant-based material, the inner layer configured to contact the skin of a user; and an adhesive disposed between the outer layer and the lining and configured to bind the outer layer to the lining, wherein the adhesive is activated in a bonding process.

A sustainable wearable item is provided. The sustainable wearable item comprising an outer layer comprising a plant-based material, an inner layer comprising a plant-based material, the inner layer configured to contact the skin of a user; and an adhesive disposed between the outer layer and the lining and configured to bind the outer layer to the lining, wherein the adhesive is activated in a bonding process.