| Glossary of Footwear Terminology |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
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A [ TOP ]
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| Ankle Strap |
| A strap attached at the rear of the shoe that encircles the ankle. Usually features an adjustable buckle or elastic. |
| Antiquing |
| A type of leather finish that creates a contrasting, rubbed-off appearance. |
| Arch |
| The high, curved part of the sole of the foot, located between the ball of the foot and the heel. This term can also refer to the raised area of the insole of a shoe, which is meant to pad and provide support for the arch of the foot. |
| Athletic Shoe |
| Athletic footwear meant for performance of a specific sport. Basketball, Golf, Hiking, Running, Tennis and Walking are some examples. |
B [ TOP ]
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| Back Seam |
| The vertical seam at the center of the back of a shoe or boot. |
| Ball |
| The padded area of the foot between the big toe and the arch of the foot. |
| Ballerina Shoe |
| A ballet-style shoe meant for everyday wear.
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| Boot |
| A style of footwear extending to the height of the anklebone and above. May extend as high as the thigh. |
| Brogue |
| A heavy, oxford-style shoe featuring perforated detailing. |
| Buckle |
| A clasp at the end of a length of fabric or leather that joins one end of the material to the other. |
| Bunions |
| A painful swelling at the base of the big toe, frequently leading to permanent enlargement of the toe joint. |
| Burnish |
| The process of buffing a shoe surface to achieve an antiquing effect of the leather. |
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| Calfskin |
| Leather created from the skins of very young cows. Calfskin is typically very supple and soft. |
| Calluses |
| A firm, rough patch of skin that develops from overuse or irritation. |
| Cemented Construction |
| A shoe construction in which the upper of a shoe is cemented, rather than stitched, to the sole of the shoe. Cement construction results in a lighter, more flexible shoe. |
| Chukka Boot |
| A boot style with laces, usually with a plain toe, and is the height of the ankle. |
| Clog |
| A footwear style featuring a closed toe, open back and a platform sole traditionally fashioned from wood. |
| Clutch Bag |
| A narrow, handheld bag with no strap. |
| Collar |
| A strip of material stitched to the opening of a shoe or the topline. The collar can be padded for extra comfort. |
| Contoured Footbed |
| An insole that molds to the shape of the foot. |
| Corn |
| A small, hard formation usually found on the toe. A corn is usually the result of continuous friction or pressure in one place. |
| Counter |
| A stiff piece of material placed at the heel of a shoe between the lining and upper in order to retain the shape of the shoe. |
| Crepe Rubber |
| A crude natural rubber with a crinkled texture, used in shoe soles. |
| Cushioning |
| Padding on the insole or outsole of a shoe for added comfort and stabilisation. |
D [ TOP ]
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| Demi Boot |
| A style of boot whose shaft is generally no taller than the anklebone. |
E [ TOP ]
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| E.V.A. |
| (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) - A synthetic compound used for outsoles. E.V.A. provides cushioning to the foot and is easily shaped by heat and pressure. |
| Embossed Leather |
| A design that is imprinted onto leather and often simulates exotic skin - i.e., croco or snake. May also be a random pattern. |
| Espadrille |
| A shoe or sandal style that has a woven rope or similar material covering the wedge or sole. |
| Eyelet |
| A hole through which a lace is threaded; may be reinforced with a metal ring or grommet. |
F [ TOP ]
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| Flat Foot |
| A condition in which the arch of the foot is collapsed and the entire foot rests on the ground. |
| Footbed |
| Another term for insole. |
| Forefoot |
| The area of foot between the ball and the toes. |
G [ TOP ]
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| Gait |
| An individual's style of walking. |
| Galoshes |
| Waterproof (typically rubber) overshoes or boots meant to protect the foot and footwear from inclement weather. |
| Goodyear Welt |
| A shoe construction in which the upper and sole of the shoe are stitched together, resulting in greater durability. The resulting seam is visible and runs around the outside of the shoe, where the upper and outsole meet. |
| Grain |
| The inherent surface pattern of leather, differentiated by the animal from which it came. |
H [ TOP ]
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| Heel |
| "Heel" can refer to both the rear, padded area of the underside of the foot, as well as the solid part of a shoe that supports the heel cup. |
| Heel Height |
| Heel height is measured on a vertical line at the breast of the heel, from the bottom surface of the sole where it meets the heel, to the floor. |
I [ TOP ]
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| Imitation Leather |
| Any synthetic material made to look like leather. |
| Injection Molded Construction |
| A type of sole unit construction created by injecting melted PVC or a similar material into the sole mold. Injection molded construction is an efficient way to mass-produce footwear. |
| Inseam |
| The hidden seam of a welted shoe holding together the welt, upper, lining and insole. |
| Insole |
| A lining that runs the full length of the inside of the shoe. |
| Instep |
| The upper, center section of the foot, between the toes and ankle. |
J [ TOP ]
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| Jelly Shoes |
| Shoes made entirely of PVC. |
| Jodhpur Boots |
| A low-cut boot used primarily for equestrian activities. May be laced or a twin gore pull-on style. |
K [ TOP ]
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L [ TOP ]
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| Laces |
| A strip of material strung through the eyelets of a shoe in order to pull the shoe closed and adjust its girth. |
| Last |
| A metal, wood or plastic form used to create the shape of a shoe. |
| Lambskin |
| Leather created from the skin of young sheep. |
| Leather |
| The skin of an animal, typically with the hair removed and tanned for use. |
| Lining |
| The inside material of a shoe. May be composed of leather, fabric or synthetic material. |
| Loafer |
| A slip-on shoe, completely without fasteners. |
M [ TOP ]
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| Microfiber |
| An extremely fine synthetic fiber that can be woven into textiles with the texture and drape of natural fiber cloth. |
| Mid-sole |
| The layer of material between outsole and innersole used for reinforcement or cushioning. |
| Moccasin |
| A shoe in which the bottom is a single piece of leather, stitched around a last. The vamp is usually attached by whip stitching to the bottom of the shoe so it encloses the foot. Also known as Tru-Moc construction. |
| Mule |
| Backless, closed-toe slippers or shoes. |
N [ TOP ]
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| Napa Leather |
| A supple version of sheepskin. |
| Nubuck |
| Lightweight, supple leather used on the upper of the shoe. Buffed to a suede-like appearance. |
O [ TOP ]
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| Outsole |
| The bottom outer sole of a shoe. |
| Oxford |
| A traditional term describing a low shoe laced or tied over the instep. |
P [ TOP ]
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| Perforation |
| A pattern of small holes punched or bored into the trim of a shoe, for the purpose of decoration or ventilation. |
| Pigskin Leather |
| Leather made from the skin of pigs. |
| Piping |
| A decorative, narrow strip of leather that typically follows the seam of a shoe. |
| Platform Shoe |
| A style of shoe featuring a thicker sole at the front; the heel is typically high to accommodate the higher height of the sole. |
| Polyurethane (PU) |
| A synthetic material frequently used as an alternative to leather in the manufacturing of footwear. PU is light, flexible and durable. |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) |
| A semi-rigid plastic material, often used in heel counters and outsoles for added support. |
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R [ TOP ]
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S [ TOP ]
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| Safety Shoe |
| A shoe or boot designed specifically for wear in an industrial setting. This style of shoe often includes protective features such as steel-toe reinforcement and waterproof and oil-resistant materials. |
| Sandal |
| A simple form of footwear where the shoe is held to the foot by strips of leather or fabric. |
| Shoe Horn |
| A curved metal or synthetic device used to aid in slipping the foot into a shoe. |
| Silicone |
| A slippery polymeric material used to waterproof shoes. |
| Sling-back |
| A shoe held to the foot with a strap at the back. The strap is typically elasticized or buckled for greater comfort and adjustment. |
| Slip-On |
| A style of footwear which is simply slipped on to the foot with no further adjustment. |
| Slipper |
| A flat shoe that is easily slipped on, usually meant for indoor wear and lined for comfort and warmth. |
| Sole |
| The bottom part of a shoe, not including the heel. |
| Steel Toes |
| Steel toes are most frequently found in industrial-style footwear that is meant to prevent injury in the workplace. |
| Suede |
| Leather with a soft napped surface. |
| Synthetic Materials |
| Materials other than genuine leather, but which are designed to look or function like leather. Also known as man-made materials. |
T [ TOP ]
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| Tongue |
| A strip of leather or other material, sewn into the vamp of a laced shoe and extending to the throat of the shoe. |
| Thermoplastic Rubber (T.P.R.) |
| A plastic material used by many manufacturers in the injection molding process. |
| Thermoplastic Urethane (T.P.U.) |
| A plastic material that gives support through the midfoot or medial side of a running shoe. |
| Tread |
| May refer to the design of a shoe's sole, or the way in which a shoe's sole is worn. |
U [ TOP ]
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| Upper |
| The upper part of a shoe, not including the sole. May be made from leather, fabric or synthetics. |
V [ TOP ]
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| Vamp |
| The front part of a shoe upper that covers the toes and part of the foot. |
| Vegetarian Shoes |
| Shoes made of non-leather or synthetic materials. |
| Velcro |
| Hook-and-loop fasteners are often used as straps to provide adjustable fits for shoes. |
| Vibram |
| A type of durable, non-slip, outsole typically found on hiking boots. Vibram® is a registered trademark. |
| Vinyl |
| Short for polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C.), vinyl is a shiny plastic often used for coating shoes. |
| Vulcanized Rubber |
| Rubber that has been converted from its crude state to one of durability and strength. |
W [ TOP ]
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| Waterproof Leather |
| Shoes that have been specially treated to prevent the entry of water. |
| Wedge Heel |
| A heel which extends from the back of the shoe to the ball of the shoe, following its contour. |
| Wellington |
| A Style of pull-on boots with no trim, often made of rubber, for inclement weather. |
| Width |
| The width of a shoe is typically measured in letters (AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EEE, EEEE) and refers to the width of the shoe last as measured at the ball of the foot. |
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