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Footwear glossary
Footwear terms, explained
Plain-English definitions of the shoe construction methods, materials and compliance terms buyers meet when sourcing footwear — written by a manufacturer, with how each one actually affects your product.
Construction
Cemented construction
What is cemented shoe construction?
Read →Vulcanized construction
What is vulcanized shoe construction?
Read →Injection moulding (IP/PU)
What is injection-moulded footwear?
Read →Strobel construction
What is Strobel construction?
Read →Goodyear welt
What is Goodyear welt construction?
Read →Stitchdown construction
What is stitchdown construction?
Read →Outsole
What is a shoe outsole?
Read →Midsole
What is a shoe midsole?
Read →Materials
EVA foam
What is EVA in shoes?
Read →Phylon (MD)
What is phylon (MD) in footwear?
Read →TPR (thermoplastic rubber)
What is TPR in shoes?
Read →TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
What is TPU in footwear?
Read →PU (polyurethane)
What is PU (polyurethane) in shoes?
Read →Rubber outsole
What is a rubber outsole?
Read →Engineered mesh
What is engineered mesh in footwear?
Read →Knit / flyknit upper
What is a flyknit / knit upper?
Read →Microfiber (synthetic leather)
What is microfiber synthetic leather?
Read →Compliance & Testing
REACH compliance
What is REACH compliance for footwear?
Read →RSL (Restricted Substances List)
What is an RSL (Restricted Substances List)?
Read →BSCI audit
What is a BSCI audit?
Read →AQL inspection
What is AQL inspection in footwear?
Read →GRS (Global Recycled Standard)
What is GRS (Global Recycled Standard)?
Read →EN ISO 20345 (safety footwear)
What is EN ISO 20345 (safety footwear standard)?
Read →CPSIA (US children’s products)
What is CPSIA?
Read →OEKO-TEX
What is OEKO-TEX certification?
Read →Sourcing footwear and need a straight answer?
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