Shoe definitions beginning with the letter M
Made to Measure
Also known as: Pret a Porter
Shoes made on a stock last which corresponds to the measurement of a customer's foot.
Category: lasting, shoe parts
Making
A number of processes by which heels and soles are attached to a lasted shoe.
Category: shoemaking
Mary Janes
A type of women's shoe characterized by a strap across the instep. A maryjane shoe usually refers to a girl's or woman's shoe that is styled after shoes children used to wear. Mary janes can have varying heel heights and come in a variety of styles, but what makes them mary janes is the strap that crosses the middle top of the foot - sometimes shoes called, mary janes will have multiple straps crossing the top of the foot. Traditionally, a mary jane shoe has a short, rounded toe box, and very flat heel, although now nearly any style or height of shoe can have mary jane styling.
Category: casual shoes, shoe styles
Medallion
A Medallion is a design often seen on the toe of many fancy dress shoes and is almost always symmetrical. It is made by punching small holes into the shoe leather. A Medallion can be purely ornamental, but is can also be used to cool the foot by allowing air to flow through the holes that make up the design.
Category: dress shoes, shoe parts, shoemaking
Medial Post
Dense CM-EVA foam, a TPU device, or a combination of the two that is inserted on the inside edge of the shoe to curb pronation.
Category: running, shoe parts
Mersey Boots
Also known as "Beatle Boots", dress boots with a zippered side and a slightly raised heel.
Category: boots, shoe styles
Mesh
A Woven nylon used in upper construction. Mesh has excellent breath-ability. Any fabric, knitted or woven, with an open construction.
Category: materials, shoe parts
Metallised Leather
Metallised leather is leather that has been given a lustre finish by the application of metallic powders or foils.
Metamerism
Metamerism is a peculiarity of colours whereby two materials judged to be an identical colour match in one lighting condition appear markedly different in another lighting condition.
Category: jargon, shoemaking
Metatarsal Bones
Five long bones in the foot that help to move the body forward when walking or running. They form the top slope of the foot, from the instep to the toes.
Category: foot parts, podiatry
Metatarsalgia
Also known as: Morton's neuralgia, Morton's toe
Metatarsalgia is an extremely painful condition of the forefoot that starts with a burning sensation in the fourth metatarsal head region. The cause or metatarsalgia is pressure on the nerves near the metatarsal heads when walking, arising from some degree of displacement of the metatarsal heads.
Category: podiatry
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Abbreviation: MEK
A solvent used for wiping the surface of PVC soles to remove plasticiser residue.
Category: materials
Micro Porous Rubber
Abbreviation: MPR
Rubber with a cellular structure. The cells are filled with air and provide support and cushioning. Generally firmer, more durable and slightly heavier than both EVA and PU.
Category: materials
Micro-Cellular Rubber
A foam rubber material usually of high density containing very small cells. The sizes of the cells have not been quantified. This type of foam/rubber can be made from materials such as urethanes, polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic olefins, and polyvinyl chloride. It is used in shoe linings and soles, automotive bumpers and springs, and in gasketing.
Category: materials
Midsole
A cushioning layer between the outsole and the upper. Materials may include EVA, PU, Micro porous rubber or compression molded EVA. It is the part of the shoe that absorbs shock, provides stability and usually encloses the vendor's cushioning technology.
Category: shoe parts
Mineral Leather Tanning
Turning hide into leather by dipping in a tanning solution containing salts of chromium, aluminium, iron and zirconium.
Category: leather, shoemaking
Moc Toe
A type of toe design with a seam and stitching details, originally seen in moccasins. Also known as Moccasin Toe.
Category: shoe styles, toe caps
Moccasin Toe
A type of toe design with a seam and stitching details, originally seen in moccasins. Also known as Moc Toe.
Category: shoe styles, toe caps
Moccasins
Also known as: Tru-Mocs
Shoes in which the bottom is a single piece of leather, stitched around a last. The vamp is usually attached by whip stitching to the bottom of the shoe so it encloses the foot. This construction was developed from the methods used by North American Indians. A moccasin construction produces a very light, flexible and comfortable shoe with a distinctive appearance.
Category: casual shoes, shoe styles
Mod Style Shoes
A shoe style characteristic of the "Mod" era in the 1960's, with bold, high contrast geometric patterns and pop-art details.
Category: shoe styles
Mondopoint
Mondopoint is an international method of designating shoe sizes. Mondopoint requires that marking should consist of two numbers: (1) a number corresponding to length in millimetres (measured weight-on and wearing hose) of the average foot fitted; and (2) a number corresponding to the joint width in millimetres (measured weight-on and wearing hose) of the average foot fitted. Mondopoint has been adopted by the British Standards Institution and the International Standards Organisation, which have specified that the size interval should be 5 mm or 7 mm, depending on the type of footwear. For example, 5 mm would be appropriate for women's court shoes and 7mm for footwear for which fitting tolerance is not so critical, such as moulded footwear. When a range is graded by the 7mm scale it is proposed to mark increases in size by alternate increments of 7 mm and 8 mm, for example, 240, 247, 255, 262, 270.
Category: organisation
Monk Strap
A type of shoe designed like an oxford, but with a strap closure across the instep rather than a lace up front closure.
Category: fastenings, shoe styles
Monk Strap Shoes
Also known as: Monk Shoes
Shoes fastened at the instep by a strap with a buckle on the outer side of the shoes.
Category: dress shoes, shoe styles
Motorcycle Boots
Boots ideal for riding a motorcycle, often with thick, durable soles, heavy duty straps and heavy duty leather throughout.
Category: boots, shoe styles
Mukluk boots
Canadian Moccasin-based boots with rabbit fur uppers, made famous by Kate Moss.
Category: boots, shoe styles
Mules
Slippers or shoes without quarters, held on the feet by the foreparts only.
Category: shoe styles
Mulling
A process during shoemaking where shoe uppers are warmed and dampened by steam to make them more pliable and easier to last.
Category: lasting, shoemaking
