Shoe definitions beginning with the letter I
Imitation Leather
Any man-made material designed to look and feel like leather.
Ingrown Nails
Nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin. They are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but also by shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, poor foot structure and can be hereditary.
Category: podiatry
Injection Molded EVA
The process of injecting ethylene vinyl acetate foam into molds to make it a bit more uniform and durable, but the process is difficult to control as EVA continues to expand after the injecting process.
Category: materials
Injection Moulding
Injection moulding is a a method of moulding a sole unit, for example, using PVC or other thermoplastic material, by melting the material in the heated barrel of an injection moulding machine and injecting it under pressure into the mould cavity. Injection moulding is a cheap method of mass-producing shoes. An injection moulded sole is flexible, waterproof, long-wearing and has excellent adhesion but tends to crack after extended use.
Category: shoemaking
Inner Lining
An additional lining, usually of cotton drill between the vamp lining and vamp of of a shoe to aid in preserving the shape during wear.
Category: shoe parts
Inseam
The hidden seam of a welted shoe holding together the welt, upper, lining and insole.
Category: fastenings, shoe parts
Insock
An insock is a thin layer of material placed into the shoe after manufacture to cover the insole
Category: shoe parts
Insole
The part of a shoe that the foot rests upon, usually cushioned. An insole is a light sole conforming to the shape of the bottom of the last to which the upper and the bottom are attached to make the shoe. In most constructions the insole forms the foundation of the shoe. An insole is made of leather, leatherboard or fibreboard, and needs to be flexible and able to absorb moisture. In many cases the insole is covered by an insock after making to cover any nails, stitches, etc. which may protrude.
Category: lasting, shoe parts, shoemaking
Instep
The area of the foot between the toes and the ankle, or the top front part of a shoe.
Category: foot parts, podiatry, shoe parts
Instep Girth Measurement
The girth measurement of a last or foot taken at the middle of the waist through the instep point.
Category: lasting, shoe parts
Instep Position of Foot
A point on the top of the foot just above the arch which is distinguished by its bony prominence.
Category: foot parts
Interlaced Leather
A sheet made by interlacing strips of leather. Interlaced leather is used for making the whole or part of an upper of a piece of footwear.
Interlining
A material used between the footwear upper and the lining to increase softness and plumpness of the upper material.
Category: shoe parts
Internal Wedge
The wedge heel inserted and stuck in the finished footwear. The heel is then covered with a soft rubber pad, this needs a special last having wood where the heel would normally fit.
Category: lasting, shoe parts, shoemaking
Inverted Pulling Over Machine
A pulling over machine where the operator has a full view of the footwear while the pulling over is done.
Category: shoemaking, tools
Invisible Eyelets
Also known as: Blind Eyelets
Eyelets inserted and clenched on the lining so that the surface of the eyelet is not visible from the outside of the footwear.
Category: fastenings, shoe parts
Invisible Sole
Refers to a half sole that has been spliced or beveled to show no edge at the point of union.
Category: shoe parts
Iron
A unit of measurement for the thickness of leather. One iron is equal to 0.53 mm.
Category: leather
Ironing Out
A finishing process for footwear utilising an electrically heated iron.
Category: shoemaking
