Shoe definitions beginning with the letter L
Lace Hook
Small hooks inserted like eyelets into boot and shoe facings to hold the lace for fastening.
Category: fastenings, shoe parts
Lace Stay
A strip of leather applied on the front of a laced boot or shoe to strengthen and reinforce the eyelets or eyelet holes
Category: fastenings, shoe parts
Lace Up Shoes
Any low cut shoe fastened by lacing such as an Oxford or Blucher
Category: shoe styles
Laces
A strip of material strung through the eyelets of a shoe in order to pull the shoe closed and adjust its girth
Category: fastenings, shoe parts
Lacing Hook
A tool used mainly in footwear manufacturing to draw laces through eyelet holes quickly
Category: fastenings, tools
Lacquers
Any of various clear or colored synthetic coatings made by dissolving nitrocellulose or other cellulose derivatives together with plasticizers and pigments in a mixture of volatile solvents and used to impart a high gloss to surfaces. These are commonly used on dress shoes.
Category: materials, shoemaking
Lambskin
Leather used in shoe manufacturing made from a young sheep's or lamb's skin.
Lamination
Joining the faces of sheet materials together. This gives greater strength than each material would have on it's own and simplifies handling. Examples include laminated linings, which are cut at the same time as the outers, and brittle leathers such as snakes, which are laminated to a backer to prevent splitting in lasting and wear.
Category: shoemaking
Lap Iron
A small slab of iron approximately of the same shape as a half sole, that is held in worker's lap to serve as a kind of anvil, on which leather can be hammered.
Category: leather, shoemaking, tools
Lapped Seam
A seam produced by laying one part over another and stitching them together.
Category: fastenings, shoemaking
Lapstone
A shoemaker's stone held in the lap and upon which he beats leather or soles in order to give them a counted shape or on which he pounds down seams or folded edges with flat faced hammers.
Category: shoemaking, tools
Last
A shape or form, usually made of wood (often oak or hornbeam), that represents the space inside a shoe. It is used (upside down - heel up) to construct the shoe and give it shape.
Category: lasting, shoemaking, tools
Last Girth Scale
The amount of increase and decrease in girth measurement of a last in relation to its increase and decrease in sizes and fittings.
Category: lasting, shoemaking
Lasting
Gathering and shaping the assembled uppers on the last and fixing the upper on to the insole. The operation of stretching the upper over the last so that it conforms to the shape of the last, at the same time attaching it to the insole.
Category: lasting, shoemaking
Lasting Allowance
Also known as: Lasting Margin
A small excess margin for error that is added to upper piece dimensions. A lasting allowance ensures that shoemakers don't create shoes with insufficient material or that are weakened by poor joins of undersized pieces.
Category: fastenings, lasting, shoemaking
Lasting Jack
An iron stand fitted with a last peg on which the last with the upper is placed during lasting.
Category: lasting, shoemaking, tools
Lasting Tack
A small tack used to secure an upper to an insole. A lasting tack is used for temporary attachment of insole to last
Category: fastenings, lasting, tools
Latex
The milky emulsion of rubber particles exuded from the bark of the rubber tree. Used for making natural crepe rubber and adhesives and skin tight clothing and footwear.
Category: materials, shoemaking
Leather Board
Sheet material made by shredding pieces of scrap leather, suspending it in water together with a small percentage of rubber or synthetic binding material
Category: leather, materials, shoemaking
Leather Shoe Cleaning
Good calf, grain and kid leathers deserve good treatment. Always clean regularly with a brush or damp cloth to remove all traces of dirt before applying a good quality shoe cream or polish of the correct colour.
Leather Shoe Cleaning
Good calf, grain and kid leathers deserve good treatment. Always clean regularly with a brush or damp cloth to remove all traces of dirt before applying a good quality shoe cream or polish of the correct colour.
Category: shoe care
Lifts
Layers of leather or leather board composing the heel of a shoe, the lift in contact with the ground is called the top-piece and is frequently of rubber or plastic
Category: heels, leather, shoe parts, shoemaking
Light Hiking Shoes
Athletic shoes that are ideal for day hikes or "approach" hiking but are not ideal for long backpacking hikes or climbing
Category: athletic shoes, shoe styles
Lining
Material applied inside a shoe over the quarters and vamps to enhance comfort and durability.
Category: materials, shoe parts, shoemaking
Linings
In quality shoes the quarters and vamps are lined with a soft material or leather to enhance comfort and durability.
Category: materials, shoe parts, shoemaking
Lizardskin
Leather made from a lizard’s skin that is used to make or decorate shoes.
Category: leather, materials, shoemaking
Loafers
Loafers are slip-on shoes usually with rounded fronts that are built more for comfort than style. Often the entire shoe is constructed from just 2 pieces of leather which form a bag-like shoe that consists of a bowl shaped piece of leather that has an "apron" of leather sewn to the top front. A light- weight casual for men, without fastening. Usually with a small tongue and saddle trim.
Category: casual shoes, shoe styles
Lorne Shoes
Lorne shoes are a women's lace-up shoe style in which the quarters are laid over the vamp and drawn together by a lace. Lorne shoes are the women's equivalent of men's derbys.
Category: shoe styles
Louis Heel
A shaped heel, usually curved in at the back side, with a breasted forepart.
Category: heels, shoe parts
Lucite
A type of clear hard plastic that is often used in dress shoes.
Category: dress shoes, jargon, materials
Lug Soled Shoes
Lug soled shoes incorporate soles that have heavy three dimensional tread patterns on them for better traction or as a fashion statement.
Category: shoe styles
Lycra/Neoprene
A blend of stretch fabric and neoprene rubber, ideal for a waterproof and sporty soft lining.
