A shoe upper mounting machine with a string lasting means is designed for mounting a shoe upper using a string lasting means for the footwear mounting sector with high-productivity, using the string lasting method of sewing the edges with a lasting string. The invention includes the use of this technology in footwear models which are normally excluded because they have sturdy, not flexible shoe uppers which are difficult to conform using string lasting. It is sufficient to provide a shoe upper with new dimensions suitable for this mounting technology. The machine is capable of lasting any string and adjusting any shoe upper to the form, provided these materials conform with acceptable quality standards for footwear components. The invention is characterized by a module (3) for fitting shoe uppers onto the form (F), a string lasting module (4), and optionally a module (5) for coupling and uncoupling the couplable footwear form.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method. The method may include placing an upper on a last, where the upper includes a lower perimeter edge secured to a lasting element, and where the last includes an opening for receiving the lasting element. The method may further include feeding the lasting element at least partially through an opening of the last and tensioning the lasting element to tighten the upper around the last by pulling the tensioning element at least partially through the opening.

A method of forming an article of footwear can include providing an upper in a substantially flat orientation, securing a gathering string along at least a portion of a perimeter of a first surface of the upper with a securing member that is attached to the upper, positioning the upper on a last, and applying tension to the gathering string to at least partially conform the upper to a shape of the last.