The Breakdown On Shoes - How They Are Made
January 9th, 2009

Shoes can be made from a variety of materials such as vinyl, leather, canvas, and even sometimes varying degrees of plastic. Some are constructed by hand while others are mass-produced on an assembly line. How shoes are made largely depends on the type of shoe and the quality.

Some of the best shoes ever created for comfort and perfect fit are handmade for custom fit. Shoes made from quality real leather product produced from cows, pigs, or even deer and elk are often considered the best quality. Genuine leather is usually soft, thick, and often a little stretchy, unlike standard shoe leather which is usually thin and stiff. This makes a difference in the comfort and support a shoe can offer. These shoes are usually better made than mass produced models that come off of an assembly line.

Some handmade shoes have additional features that can be added for additional comfort. If you have flat feet, and need extra arched support for your foot, an arch support can be added at 3/8" thick or more. Another aspect of shoes that are carefully handmade and constructed is that these are permanently stitched together with a heavy pure nylon thread. This makes for a more durable, longer lasting construction. Also, the uppers of handmade shoe are usually molded to the shape of your feet, and the insoles are self-molding.

Just like patterns are used for making new clothes and outfits, patterns are also used to construct a new pair of shoes. After the pattern is cut for the shoe into various shoe parts, the process of putting the shoe pieces together can be explained in three steps:

1.      Attach the Insole to the Last: One of the best ways to begin constructing a shoe is to attach the insole to the under surface of the last.

2.      Attach the Upper Sections to Last and Insole: Then, the upper sections are attached to the last and insole.

3.      Attach the Sole to the Upper: Attach the sole to the upper

Some terms for shoemaking may need further clarification for a person to understand how these shoes are made in a three-step process. Those terms that need to be defined are as follows: Insole, last, upper, and sole. These are the four of the most important parts of the shoe. The insole is the inside foundation on which the shoe rests, and often includes padding or arched material for extra shape and comfort for the foot. The last is the wooden block around which a shoe is made. This block helps correctly mold the shape of the shoe. The upper is the portion of the shoe that includes the front of the shoe, sometimes called the vamp, the sides, back, and lining of shoe. The sole is the bottom portion of the shoe on which the upper and additional quarters of the shoe are attached, including the sides and back of shoe.

Materials used to make the uppers of shoes can be made out of a variety of genuine and synthetic fabrics. Some examples of fabrics used for uppers are genuine cow, sheep, alligator, and pig leathers. Denim, cotton or polyester fabrics, and canvas are also commonly used.

Methods of shoe making vary depending on the pattern and style of shoe, and the types of materials made. If you are purchasing new shoes and have a choice between handmade and custom shoes versus mass produced models, the better of the two is usually the handmade ones. These may cost more, but these are usually worth the investment because they usually last much longer.

If you want to learn more about how shoes are made, and what the best types of materials you can use to make shoes, the best thing for you to do is to search the Internet by the phrase "shoe making", "how to make shoes" or similar search word on a search engine. You will be amazed how much information is available to you at your fingertips. Perhaps you can make your own pair of shoes instead of having to buy them.

Most people are not interested in making their own pair of shoes, but would like a pair of handmade shoes for extra comfort and support for their feet. Consider purchasing a pair for yourself, or have a crafty friend make a pair for you. Many websites and local shoe making and repair shops will help custom design and create a shoe that fits your needs. Making shoes by hand, whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it for you, is a lot like making a hand-sewn outfit. It takes time, patience, and skill, but the weight and cost is worth the time and money invested

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