This page from the EnglishClub
English for Work series lists typical words and phrases used in the shoemaking industry, with example sentences showing vocabulary in context, together with a definition or meaning.
| vocabulary |
example sentence |
meaning |
| ankle boot (noun) |
She prefers to wear an ankle boot than a high boot. |
footwear that covers the whole foot and ankle |
| binding (noun) |
Usually binding is made of the same material as the
material of the upper. |
strip sewn over or along an edge for reinforcement
or decoration |
| buckle (noun) |
The buckle of that shoe is the most beautiful of the
whole collection. |
fastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or
strap; often has loose prong |
| clog (noun) |
She was trying to find a new pair of fashion clogs. |
footwear usually with wooden soles |
| colour swatch (noun) |
He's using the colour swatch to choose different
materials and colours to make all the shoes of his order. |
sample pieces of several materials and colours used
to make the shoes |
| cotton (noun) |
A new cotton material was used to produce that
special part of the shoe. |
fabric woven from cotton fibres |
| cuff (noun) |
The cuff alignment allows the boot cuff to follow
the line of the leg in the boot. |
the lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling
the end of a material |
| eyelet (noun) |
The most popular shoe-tying is a simple crisscross,
each end of the shoelace pulled through the next eyelet on the opposite flap. |
fastener consisting of a metal ring for lining a
small hole to permit the attachment of cords or lines |
| fashioned (adjective) |
Those clients bought fashioned shoes. |
planned and made or designed artistically |
| fitting (noun) |
The fitting of the shoe is approved. |
making or becoming suitable; adjusting |
| foam (noun) |
The foam's properties allow the shoe to change with
the wearer's foot as it shrinks and swells throughout the day. |
a lightweight material in cellular form; made by
introducing gas bubbles during manufacture |
| heel (noun) |
She prefers to buy shoes with high heels. |
the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the
ground |
| heel cap (noun) |
She prefers to have a heel cap on the heel of her
shoes. She doesn't like a painted heel. |
material covering the heel of a boot or shoe and
reinforcing or decorating it |
| insole (noun) |
Insoles can add extra cushioning and shock
absorption to your walking shoes. |
the inner sole of a shoe or boot |
| instep girth (noun) |
In order to obtain a good impermeability, the
sealing element extends continuously from the toe of the liner sole up to the
area of the instep girth. |
the arch of the foot; circumference |
| kidskin (noun) |
They only produce shoes using kidskin leather. |
soft smooth leather from the hide of a young goat |
| last (noun) |
It's necessary to have a perfect last to produce
those expensive shoes. |
holding device shaped like a human foot that is used
to fashion or repair shoes |
| lift (noun) |
Most parts of lifts are black or dark brown. |
a device worn in a shoe or boot to make the wearer
look taller or to correct a shortened leg |
| lining (noun) |
They usually choose the same colour of upper to
produce the fabric lining of their shoes. |
a protective covering that protects the inside
surface of the upper |
| ornament (noun) |
The shoe buckle has also been important as an
ornament. |
something used to beautify; decoration |
| pin (noun) |
New shoe pins are now available to be used by
designers. |
small markers inserted into a surface to mark scores
or define locations |
| print (noun) |
The client can put its own print on the insole. |
a visible indication made on an insole |
| reverse side (noun) |
They used a new reverside side piece to produce the
back part of the shoe. |
a reverse piece of material that composes the back
to protect the heel |
| rivet (noun) |
There are a lot of coloured rivets on that upper. |
ornament having a head at one end and the other end
being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces that are
fastened together |
| rubber (noun) |
He was developing a new rubber sole for the ankle
boot. |
made of rubber and therefore water-repellent |
| sandal (noun) |
She loves those thin straps on her sandals. |
a shoe consisting of a sole fastened by straps to
the foot |
| seam (noun) |
The medial and lateral sections join in a seam at
the back end of the shoe. |
joint consisting of a line formed by joining two
pieces |
| sewing needle (noun) |
They used a special sewing needle to produce that
shoe. |
a needle used in sewing to pull thread through cloth |
| shoe factory (noun) |
That shoe factory produces a very large quantity of
casual shoes. |
a factory where shoes are made |
| shoe lace (noun) |
The shoelace can be untied and loosened, permitting
the shoe to open wide to admit the wearer's foot. |
a lace used for fastening shoes |
| shoebox (noun) |
They used a white plain shoebox to put the shoe
inside. |
an oblong rectangular (usually cardboard) box
designed to hold a pair of shoes |
| skin (noun) |
They use a specific cow's skin to produce their
shoes. |
the layer of tissue that forms the natural outer covering of an animal |
| sole (noun) |
This
line of shoes has several options for the sole. |
the underside of footwear |
| tannery (noun) |
A tannery transforms raw hides and skins into leather
for manufacturing articles like shoes. |
workplace where skins and hides are processed |
| tight (adjective) |
I hate wearing these old shoes. They're too tight for me. |
closely constrained or constricted/constricting |
| tissue paper (noun) |
The shoes are wrapped in tissue paper and packed in
cardboard boxes. |
thin, translucent paper used for packing, wrapping
or protecting shoes |
| toecap (noun) |
The toecap of his shoe has a big whole on it. It
needs to be fixed. |
material covering the toe of a boot or shoe and
reinforcing or decorating it |
| tongue (noun) |
The double tongue allows the tongue to be up but at
the same time folded forward to create a unique style to the shoe. |
the flap of material under the laces of a shoe or
boot |
| upper (noun) |
That upper gives a nice design to the shoe. |
piece of material that forms the part of a shoe or
boot above the sole |
| vamp (noun) |
He developed a new combination of leathers to create
the vamp of that fashion shoe. |
piece of leather forming the front part of the upper
of a shoe |