11 Common Manufacturing Techniques Applied to Shoes Vamp

(The picture is from Under Armour Official Website.)

A pair of shoes is composed of vamp and sole, which is monotonous and inflexible. To make shoes full of characteristics and show their different personality characteristics, China shoes manufacturers make various colors, patterns, and shapes on the shoes vamps, which is called shoes techniques. The shoes techniques mainly play a decorative role, leaving people hazy, three-dimensional, texture, speed, and other beautiful feelings and aesthetic taste. Therefore, it is extremely crucial for China shoes manufacturers to master and skillfully use the shoes techniques.

Today, I will introduce the shoes techniques commonly used by China shoes manufacturers. How do they make all kinds of shoes vamp? And what are the manufacturing techniques of shoes vamps worn by people?

Want to know that? Please keep reading!

Content

1. Fused Pattern

2. Debossing&Embossing

3. Embroidery

4. Silicone Printing

5. 3D Printing&Silk Printing&Transfer Printing

6. Rubber Patch

7. Woven Label& Ribbon

8. Metal Icon

9. Plastic Icon

10. Decorative Thread&Decorative Puncturing

11. Binding&Folding

Here is a guide to 11 common shoes techniques applied to vamp by China shoes manufacturers.

1. Fused Pattern 

Fused pattern is one of the most prevalent shoes techniques for China shoes manufacturers, which means that the mold is seamlessly attached to the shoes vamp. Generally, the mold on the shoes vamp is the TPU film. The effect picture of using the shoes technique of fused pattern is shown in the red circle above the picture. As can be seen from the figure, the TPU film is attached to the shoes vamp very closely.

The shoes vamp adopted to the shoes technique of fused pattern by China shoes manufacturers are firm, seamless, fewer lines, beautiful and valuable, and have good wrapping performance, softness, and comfort.

The purpose of the shoes technique of fused pattern is to overcome the technical problems in the material waste of cutting products and the gap of splicing the film and the shoes vamp, which can result in a low production rate.

2. Debossing&Embossing

Both debossing and embossing should press the transparent or opaque material to another material and open the mold with special processing. Therefore, for China shoes manufacturers, not only is the cost higher but also the manufacturing difficulty is considerable. That can show the comprehensive performance of shoes techniques among China shoes manufacturers.

(Picture 1)

For China shoes manufacturers, debossing is when an image (logo, text, etc.) is imprinted into the shoes vamp, creating an indentation in the shoes vamp. The metal die-stamped onto the shoes vamp to create a depressed area.

As shown in picture 1, the red circle indicates the concave effect presented by the shoes technique of debossing, and the fonts are printed after pressing down.

Debossing creates a depressing effect in the shoes vamp, achieving an effect opposite to embossing.

(Picture 2)

For China shoes manufacturers, embossing is when you raise a logo or other image to create a 3D graphic. The shoes vampires’ raised area can then have added other effects, such as printing some fonts on it.

Picture 2 shows the effect presented by the shoes technique of embossing. After convex, the font is printed on it. Embossing creates a raised effect in the shoes vamp, which is opposite to debossing.

Debossing and embossing can combine silicone printing or foil stamping to add depth and impact to a design for China shoes manufacturers, primarily custom shoe manufacturers or private label shoe manufacturers. Dies can be sculpted as single-level, multilevel, sculptured or with beveled edges to create striking, multi-dimensional designs.

3. Embroidery

For China shoes manufacturers, embroidery refers to embroidering various decorative patterns on the shoes vamp. In particular, it is often used in the brand Logo; that is, it’s more commonly used on custom shoes or private label shoes. Due to the complex process and fine quality of good sports shoes, the cost is relatively expensive.

Therefore, although this shoes technique is common, it is also a manifestation of China shoes manufacturers’ ability, especially for custom shoe manufacturers or private label shoe manufacturers.

Embroidery marks the exquisite design pattern on the proper position of the shoes vamp. The pattern is scanned, and input by the computer and multiple machines is controlled to carry out embroidery at the same time. Embroidery has a three-dimensional feeling. The embroidery thread has a beautiful luster and beautiful color, which is often used in trademark decoration.

4. Silicone Printing

For China shoes manufacturers, silicone printing is one of the most common shoes techniques. Silicone printing is a kind of lithographic printing. In other words, it is a printing method that transfers the pictures and texts on the printing plate to the substrate utilizing a rubber blanket. It is the existence of a blanket that gives this printing method its name. The effect is shown in the gray part of the red circle above the picture.

Silicone printing can avoid the water and ink on the printing surface being transferred to the surface of the printing material. And it also can restore the color, contrast and level of the original with high precision and clarity. The image quality is high, clear and sharp because the rubber blanket can contact the texture of the surface of the printing material well.

5. 3D Printing&Silk Printing&Transfer Printing

(Picture 1)

3D printing usually refers to lenticular printing. It adopts a principle that simulates the space difference between human eyes. Different angles and different levels of pixels are recorded on the photosensitive materials. Then, with the help of the composite of grating materials, three-dimensional effects and even virtual                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       reality can be presented on the two-dimensional plane images. In this way, people who do not need to use any tools can feel the tremendous fun of three-dimensional pictures through eye observation directly.

3D printing and 3D image can not see the three-dimensional effect on the computer. Still, after the three-dimensional printing, you can see the 3D effect without wearing three-dimensional glasses due to the particularity of grating material!

For China shoes manufacturers, 3D printing is also a more common shoes technique applied to the shoes vamp. And it is often used in the vamp of vulcanized shoes. The whole pattern is printed on the shoes vamp. The effect of the shoes vamp using 3D printing is shown in the red box of picture 1. The shoes technique enriches the diversity of color and pattern of the vamp, with noticeable effect and strong appeal.

(Picture 2)

Silk printing, for China shoes manufacturers, refers to the use of silk as a plate base, and then to make with graphic silk printing plate through the photosensitive plate making method. On the basic principle of printing, with a silk printing plate, the visible part of the mesh can be through the ink, non-graphic part of the mesh can not be through the ink.

For China shoes manufacturers, when printing, the ink is poured into one end of the silk printing plate, and a scraper is used to exert a certain pressure on the ink part of the silk printing plate. At the same time, the ink moves towards the other end of the silk printing plate at a constant speed. During the movement, the ink is squeezed from the mesh of the graphic part to the substrate by the scraper.

The effect of silk printing on the shoes vamp is shown in the fonts of the red circle in picture 2. This shoes technique can often be seen in the brand name printed on the vamp of private label shoes.

(Picture 3)

What is transfer printing? For China shoes manufacturers, transfer printing is a new method of printing patterns on a variety of upper materials. It is particularly suitable for producing a small variety of personalized and customized or private label patterns and printing patterns that include full-color images or photographs.

About this shoes technique, its principle is to transfer digital patterns onto special paper with special ink through a printer and then transfer the designs to the surface of the shoes vamp under high temperature and high pressure through a particular printer to complete the printing on the shoes vamp.

For China shoes manufacturers, transfer printing is a digital printing machine that can print multi-color at one time, any complex color or transition color on any relatively flat materials such as leather, textile fabrics, organic glass, metal, plastic, crystal, wood products, coated paper, etc. It does not need plate making, color setting and complex drying procedures, will not damage the materials, and is suitable for mass production.

For China shoes manufacturers, especially for custom shoes manufacturers or private label shoes manufacturers, transfer printing is a widespread shoes technique used in the vamp. It is commonly used to print the exclusive names of custom shoes and private label shoes.

The effect picture of trademark using the shoes technique of transfer printing is shown in picture 3. The white letters in the red circle are shown in picture 3. It can be seen from picture 3 that the trademark is unmistakable, and there is no material loss on the surface.

6. Rubber Patch

A rubber patch is like a PVC silicone product with white or colored rubber ornaments on the surface of knitted cotton cloth, various chemical fiber fabrics and textiles. For China shoes manufacturers, it is also a common shoes technique in the vamp.

The shoes technique of rubber patch mainly uses the property of the variable state of thermoplastic polymer material–namely, with sticky flow characteristics under certain conditions and recoverable solid features at room temperature. Appropriate methods and special tools are used for ink-jet, which can be molded into the designed shape according to the requirements under its viscous flow state, and then cured at room temperature.

This shoes technique has been widely used to trademark all kinds of custom shoes or private label shoes. Of course, in addition to shoes, it is often used to decorate other cards, travel commemorative badges, and exquisite handicrafts.

7. Woven Label& Ribbon

(Picture 1)

The woven label is also known as the “woven mark.” For custom shoe manufacturers and private label shoes manufacturers, the woven label is often used in the shoes vamp, mainly for shoe identification or labeling.

There are two kinds of woven labels: one is trimming woven labels, and the other is woven edge labels. Its different technical methods have additional application value and texture effect.

The woven label has different washable characteristics, temperature resistance and others as it can be woven with various components of yarn raw materials. Most woven labels are 100% polyester, with bright colors, washable, and fastness below 160 degrees.

The effect picture of the shoes technique of woven label on the vamp is shown in picture 1. The white part in the red box is the woven label. The fonts and patterns on the woven label can be modified according to the design drawing. It mainly depends on the client’s requirements. Also, China shoes manufacturers will give feasible suggestions to achieve the effect.

(Picture 2)

The ribbon is made of various yarns into narrow fabrics or tubular fabrics. There are many kinds of stripes widely used in clothing, shoes, and other industrial sectors. The structure of fabrics includes plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, jacquard, double-layer, multi-layer, tubular and joint weave.

For China shoes manufacturers, woven labels and ribbons are commonly used in the shoes vamp, making shoes vamp diversified and colorful. The design with a sense of fashion and beauty will make shoes unique.

The effect picture of the shoes technique of ribbon used on the vamp is shown in picture 2. The black part in the red circle is the ribbon. Generally, the clients will require to print the exclusive name of their company on the ribbon.

8. Metal Icon

(Picture 1)

Metal icon refers to the metal as the raw material, making other accessories to decorate the shoes vamp. The prominent role of this shoes technique is to make shoes more beautiful, more attractive to the customers. With the various forms of decoration, metal icons formed by metal components have their characteristics, represented by metal iron. It has practicability, adornment, safety and permeability, etc.

Of course, when the shoes vamp uses metal as an ornament for China shoes manufacturers, it is generally necessary to test the metal content, especially for shoes exported to foreign countries. That is to ensure that shoes will not cause any harm to the body.

The effect picture of the shoes technique of metal icon is shown in picture 1. The metal icon is the star ornament in the red circle.

9. Plastic Icon

(Picture 1)

Plastic icons are all kinds of plastics used for the shoes vamp. This shoes technique also plays an essential role in the shoes vamp, which will make the shoes distinctive and unique.

The plastic icon is a material with synthetic resin or natural resin as the primary raw material. With or without additives, it is the material that keeps the shape of products unchanged at room temperature through mixing, plasticizing and molding under a specific temperature and pressure.

For China shoes manufacturers, the plastic icon is also a common shoes technique applied to vamp. The effect picture of the plastic icon is shown in the thick black line in the red circle in picture 1, which is matched with the shoelace and ribbon to make the shoes unique.

10. Decorative Thread&Decorative Puncturing

(Picture 1)

The decorative thread has the same effect as the lines, with a different setup with other decorative materials for the sake of beauty on the shoes vamp.

As shown in picture 1, the green suture in the red circle is the effect picture of using the shoes technique of decorative thread.

Generally speaking, for China shoes manufacturers, as long as the shoe designer has the requirements to use this shoes technique, there is no problem, and it can be more exquisite and beautiful.

(Picture 2)

Decorative puncturing refers to the shoes technique of punching holes in the vamp. According to the size of the designed punctures and the suggestions of China shoes manufacturers, you will jointly decide how to make the punctures in shoes vamp more artistic and fashionable.

The shoes technique of decorative puncturing is shown in picture 2. Generally speaking, there can not be only one decorative puncture on the shoes vamp. For China shoes manufacturers, this shoes technique is often used in the vamp. Several designed punches are put together or arranged to form a shoe’s characteristic. Picture 2 shows that several rows of punctures are put together to realize the breathable function of the shoes better.

11. Binding&Folding

(Picture 1)

The binding is using unique stitching. For shoes vamp, this shoes technique can add a sense of fashion and beauty. The specific effect picture of this shoes technique is shown in the red circle in picture 1. The bindings are oblique or hooked, which is beautiful and does not take off the beard.

(Picture 2)

The folding is often used on the edge of the shoes vamp and is closely stitched. The specific effect of using this shoes technique is shown in the red circle in picture 2. The needle and thread are relatively dense. This shoes technique is adding the aesthetics.

For China shoes manufacturers, these 11 shoes techniques are standardly used in the vamp. I hope you can gain something from the article. Suppose you are interested in the shoe industry or are looking for China shoes manufacturers or private labels shoes manufacturers. In that case, you can contact us by email: andy.h@topfactoryshoes.com, or if you have any questions, we welcome you to leave a message. Thank you!

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