Shoe definitions beginning with the letter P
P2E
A thin corrugated metal plate used in golf shoes that eliminates uncomfortable spike pressure by distributing it throughout the entire outsole providing more comfort and improved performance.
Category: athletic shoes, materials, shoe parts
Padding
A thin, cushion-like mass of soft material used to fill, to give shape or to protect against jarring, scraping, or other injury.
Category: materials, shoe parts, shoemaking
Paris Points
Paris points is the system of shoe size measurement common over most of continental europe. There are three paris points in two centimetres making one paris point equal to two-thirds of a centimetre. The size scale starts at zero.
Category: organisation
Partial Cup Sole
A running shoe sole that is made using the same construction technique as a full cup sole except that the side wall does not extend the full length of the medial side. A partial cup sole is lighter and more flexible than a full cup sole allowing for more flexibility.
Category: heels, running, shoe parts
Patent Leather
Fine grain leather which is specially treated with polyurethane to create an exceptionally gloss finish, especially suitable for evening wear. Patent leather can also be used in conjunction with other leather to produce eye catching results.
Category: dress shoes, leather, materials
Pattens
Wooden or leather overshoes made in the shape of the shoe sole that that the patten is designed to be worn with. pattens are strapped over lighter shoes.
Category: shoe styles
Pearlised Leather
Pearlised leather is leather that is finished to give it a lustrous appearance similar to the appearance of a pearl.
Pebbled Grain Leather
Leather embossed to resemble a bumpy or "pebbled" surface.
Peekaboo Toe Shoe
A type of closed toe shoe with a small open panel allowing a glimpse of toes.
Category: shoe styles
Peep-toe
A shoe with a small cutout in the front to slightly reveal the toes.
Category: shoe styles, toe caps
Penny Loafer
A loafer with a strap across the vamp that has a cut-out in the shape of lips. Originally it was fashionable to stick pennies in this cut-out. Thus the name "penny" loafers.
Category: casual shoes, shoe styles
Permiability
The ability of a material to allow water or water vapour through its thickness.
Category: jargon
Petrol Patent Leather
Petrol patent leather is black patent leather which has been finished to give a subtle multi-coloured, prismatic effect resembling petrol spilt onto a wet surface.
Phalanges
The toe bones, two in the big toe and three in each of the other toes.
Category: foot parts
Pilgrim Shoes
Flat, pointed shoes with a buckle across the front. Think founding fathers (or witches).
Category: shoe styles
Piping
A thin strip or 'pipe' of leather that made by placing string under leather, and stitching along it. Piping is often used to decorate the seam of a shoe.
Category: handbags, leather, shoe parts
Pitch
The angle at the joint between the sole of a shoe and the ground. The pitch should be greater on high heeled shoes than low heeled shoes. Incorrect pitch is often a sign that a heel has been used that is the wrong height for the last upon which the shoe was made.
Category: shoemaking
Plantar
The lower surface of the foot. Sometimes used to describe the insole.
Category: foot parts, podiatry
Plantar Flex
Plantar flex is a foot movement occurring when the foot is flexed downward so that the forefoot moves further away from the leg.
Category: podiatry
Plasticiser
A chemical component included in PVC to make it flexible for use in soling. Cheap quality plasticisers have an oily character. They tend to migrate, which causes adhesion problems and changes in the character of the soling.
Category: materials, shoemaking
Platform
A raised sole (usually ½ an inch or more, with a heel). An extra component inserted between the insole and the outsole. Platforms are made of various materials like plastics, rubber, cork, wood etc. In some cases they are moulded in one piece with outsole and heel.
Category: shoe parts
Platform Wedge
A shoe incorporating a combined wedge heel and platform sole.
Category: heels, shoe styles
Pleating
A process used in shoemaking where upper leather is gathered then sewn producing a gathered, pleated effect.
Category: leather, shoemaking
Polyethelene
Abbreviation: PE
A synthetic polymer, composed of many ethylene monomer building blocks, used in shoemaking to produce midsoles and heel counters.
Category: materials
Polymer
The simplest definition of a Polymer is something made of many units. Many common classes of Polymers are composed of hydrocarbons. Polymers have many inherent properties that can be enhanced by a wide range of additives to broaden their use and application.
Category: materials
Polyurethane
Abbreviation: PU
A type of man-made material that can be made to have the look and feel of leather. Synthetic soling material. It is flexible soft and light weight.
Category: materials
Polyurethane Upper Material
A thin sheet of expanded Polyurethane attached to a fabric backing material. polyurethane upper material is commonly used in women's shoes and it has the appearance and feel of leather.
Category: materials
Polyvinyl Chloride
Abbreviation: PVC
A synthetic plastic material widely used for soling and coating upper materials.
Category: materials
Porvair
Porvair is a synthetic upper material made of microcellular polyurethane with no fibrous base layer. It has a finish coat simulating the grain of leather. A thin layer of Porvair is used by tanners in combination with leather splits to make a tough breathable upper material.
Pre-Selection
Also known as: Fashion Show
A designers' exhibition held before the commencement of the buying season, when buyers and manufacturers can meet designers and consider and exchange new ideas.
Category: organisation
Press Clicking Knife
A cookie-cutter knife made of high quality steel shaped exactly like the component to be cut, used for clicking by machine. Also know as Clicking Dies
Category: shoemaking, tools
Process Control
A means of ensuring that a finished product complies with a required standard.
Category: organisation
Pronation
The inward rolling of the foot during running or walking, potentially a source of injury.
Pump Shoes
Also known as: Court Shoes
Lightweight shoes with low cut vamps commonly used for dancing.
Category: shoe styles
Pumps
Women's dress shoes, usually slip on, often with enclosed toe and sides.
Category: dress shoes, shoe styles
PVC Coated Fabric
A material used for upper manufacture made from polyvinyl chloride moulded over a fabric backing material.
Category: materials
Python Leather
Leather made from a large snake known as a python which bears a distinctive and attractive marking that shows through after drying. Python leather is used for making shoes, or more commonly on account of its high cost, for insets and trims. As the size of the scales and the markings vary across the skin, care must be taken in clicking to match the pieces used. Python leather, in common with most other reptiles leather, tears easily, and should therefore be backed.
