Footwear Production Research Articles

Crafting Superior Dress Shoes

This study explores the utilization of African ostrich leg skins, sourced from South Africa, in the production of high-quality leather footwear in Ethiopia. It begins with a thorough analysis of the raw materials, particularly their fat and protein contents, while also evaluating the most effective tanning methods. The research focuses on the impact of chrome and semi-chrome tanning on the leather’s physical and structural qualities, highlighting its unique texture and durability. Through comprehensive trials conducted in Ethiopia, the study examines the leather’s thermal stability, fiber structure, and performance metrics. The results reveal that chrome tanning is better suited for producing footwear, as it enhances leather strength and yields leather with minimal stretch, making it ideal for crafting durable upper shoe components. On the other hand, semi-chrome tanning, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy, yields softer leather with better fiber separation, suitable for luxury leather bags’ decorative features. The findings demonstrate that specialized tanning techniques can enhance both the aesthetic and functional attributes of ostrich leg leather, promoting its inclusion in high-end leather products. This approach not only broadens the variety of materials for the Ethiopian leather industry but also supports economic growth and market expansion through sustainable practices and product innovation.

IMPROVING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

The article presents a circular economy proposal as a way to promote greater sustainability in the footwear industry. As part of the work, we analysed the essential components for a shoe and the materials used in the production of footwear. Currently, new proposals have emerged for footwear that use materials derived from waste and the forwarding of specific end-of-life products. These new concepts are associated with added value and targeted marketing towards sectors of society more concerned with the industry's environmental impact. This reinforces the interest in the positioning of the footwear industry in relation to the circular economy. The purpose of this article focuses on the last phase of the circular economy – recycling, educating, and valuing the role of the consumer through the collection, treatment and forwarding of used footwear materials with the aim of reducing waste in landfills but simultaneously increasing awareness of the footwear industry.

Review The Application of Factors that Influence Customers in Increasing Purchase Intention for Local Brand Sneaker Footwear Products in Indonesia

The competition in the footwear product business in the world is very competitive. Asia is the highest footwear producer at 88.2% as well as the highest consumer at 56%, followed by the Americas which produces footwear at 6.1% while the consumption rate reaches 20.8%. This proves that countries in Asia export a lot to other countries including Indonesia as the third highest exporter of footwear after China and Vietnam. The total footwear produced by the State of Indonesia reaches 1083 million pairs of footwear. Indonesia not only meets domestic needs, but Indonesia exports footwear up to 427 million pairs, but many imported products also enter Indonesia up to 150 million pairs. This is certainly a competition between imported/global brand footwear products and local brands. However, the results of the distribution of a questionnaire conducted by an online survey named Kurious in 2023 with https://www.kurious.id website address, with a total of 399 respondents conducted from February 14 – February 22, 2023. The purpose of this study is to find out what factors can affect customers in increasing the purchase intention of local brand sneaker footwear products in Indonesia. The method used in this study is a qualitative method using a descriptive approach of analysis and analysis through literature review from various Scopus publications on existing problems. The results of the study show that the factors that can influence customers in increasing the purchase intention of local brand sneaker footwear products in Indonesia are divided into 3 perspectives, namely consumers consisting of ethnocentrism or nationalism, emotional attitudes of liking local brands, then from the perspective of producers consisting of increasing creativity, innovation, durable product quality and conducting intensive promotions with the support of celebrities to influencing consumer behavior and then the third from a cultural perspective / cultural environment, including creating a taste for local products

Pressure pain threshold of the whole foot: Protocol and dense 3D sensitivity map

When designing footwear products, designers and kinesiologists usually factor in plantar surface pressure, motion capture data, and subjective comfort evaluations. However, these factors alone are not sufficient to guide the design of truly comfortable shoes. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) is a parameter that establishes a connection between psychological quantities and physical quantities. The purpose of this study was to construct a high-precision PPT map of the whole foot. Overall, 20 participants were included in this study, and an electronic, mechanical algometer was used to apply constant pressure to the participants' feet. A MATLAB graphical user interface was developed to simplify the data-collecting process and generate visual representations of the data. Finally, several high-precision unisex, different sex, and dominant side PPT maps were generated. The findings revealed that the foot dorsum area and the medial foot region exhibited the lowest PPTs (indicative of high sensitivity). Notably, the foot dorsum area near the toes displayed the highest pain sensitivity (indicative of the lowest PPT), while the plantar area demonstrated comparatively lower pain sensitivity. The heel area exhibited the lowest pain sensitivity. Simultaneously, the study observed that women's feet exhibited lower pain thresholds than men's. In the future, it is imperative to delve deeper into the correlation between short-term pain sensitivity and the daily, long-term exercise state, as well as other physiological data. This exploration will contribute to a more nuanced guide for footwear comfort design.

A Dynamic Approach to Sustainable Knitted Footwear Production in Industry 4.0: Integrating Short-Term Profitability and Long-Term Carbon Efficiency

A Dynamic Approach to Sustainable Knitted Footwear Production in Industry 4.0: Integrating Short-Term Profitability and Long-Term Carbon Efficiency

The Army, the Great War, and the Belated Industrialisation of Shoemaking in the Czech Lands

The army was perhaps the first bulk buyer of mass-produced footwear. In Europe, several regions focused on the bulk production of military (and civilian) footwear owe their origins to the army. This was also the case in the Czech Lands. The belated industrialisation of footwear production in the Czech Lands dates back to the Balkan Wars and World War I. The army and the war economy businesses under military control played a key role in this process. This study is devoted to the multifaceted role of the army in the completion of the industrialization of Czech shoemaking.

Approaching Environmental Sustainability through Energy Optimization in Polyisoprene Production

The global energy crisis, forced by fossil fuel shortages and supply chain disruption, stimulates EU policymakers to find alternative energy replacement. Modifying the present polyisoprene footwear production plant into a hybrid system by combining different energy sources raises energy efficiency. The proposed hybrid system incorporates classical and solar-based technology, resulting in energy optimization by utilizing waste heat recovery. By installing an economizer for feeding water preheating using flue gas recovery, it results in the volume of the flue gases lowering from to , or by 11.13%, while the flue gases’ temperature is lowered from 204 °C (477.15 K) to 50.99 °C (324.14 K). Further improvement in combining feed water and air preheating results in natural gas savings of 12.05%, while the flue gases’ exhaust temperature is decreased to 30.44 °C (303.59 K). The third option, using condensate heat recovery and feeding water preheating using flue gases, showed natural gas savings as much as 17.41% and exhaust flue gases cooling to 112.49 °C (385.64 K). The combination of condensate heat recovery, combustion air and feed water preheating results in the volume of the flue gases being lowered by 20.42% and natural gas savings by 20.24%, while the flue gases’ temperature is reduced to 45.11 °C (318.26K). The proposed solar application in polyisoprene production predicts the hybrid system showing fuel savings ranging from 77.96% to 87.08% in comparison to the basic process. The greatest fuel savings of 87.08% is shown in a solarized polyisoprene footwear production plant with combustion air and feed water preheating combined with the condensate return system. Integrating the solar heat into the regular industrial process of polyisoprene production showed great potential and showed environmental sustainability through energy optimization in polyisoprene production

Environmental Impact of Footwear Using Life Cycle Assessment—Case Study of Professional Footwear

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method for assessing the environmental impact of a product, activity, or system across all the stages of its life cycle. LCA can identify the activities with a major impact on the environment throughout the life cycle of a product. To analyze the environmental implications of footwear, the LCA was applied to a pair of shoes designed for professional use. In this paper, the impact of a single pair of shoes was studied. Every year, footwear production worldwide is over 22 billion pairs, which has a significant impact on the environment. In this case study, the “cradle-to-grave” approach was used, which refers to all the activities involved in the life cycle of a footwear product, starting from raw material extraction, manufacturing, use, maintenance, and, in the end, disposal. The LCA was conducted using the SimaPro software. The environmental impact assessment of the analyzed shoe needed the acquisition of two crucial datasets. Background inventory data were sourced from the Ecoinvent database (version 3.3). The impact was quantified using the Global Warming Potential (GWP) metric, which calculates the contribution of emissions to global warming over a 100-year time limit according to the established values provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was measured in relative carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2eq) to facilitate a standardized comparison. The results show that the total carbon footprint for a pair of safety boots is 18.65 kg of CO2eq with the “component manufacture” stage as a major contributor accumulating almost 80%.

Gamificación como herramienta de marketing digital

This study addresses the need to improve customer retention and online interaction for "Flip Flop," a company with a customer base of 150 individuals dedicated to the production and marketing of footwear. The research focuses on implementing gamification as a strategic tool in digital marketing. The main objective is to determine the relationship between gamification and digital marketing to establish advertising strategies. The methodology followed a quantitative approach encompassing exploratory, descriptive, and correlational scopes. Data collection combined literature review with field research. Gamified strategies, including challenges and rewards, were implemented. The results revealed the significant relevance of gamification as a highly effective tool in digital marketing. To assess the impact of gamification on customer retention and online interaction, the level of acceptance of the strategy was evaluated, reaching a considerable 55.3% acceptance among surveyed customers. The quantitative approach, through questionnaires, facilitated data collection from potential customers, highlighting the strategic importance of gamification in generating audience interest and engagement. Gamification proved to be an effective strategy for enhancing the connection between the company and its customers, underscoring its valuable role in digital marketing. These findings emphasize the importance of innovation in this field and provide valuable insights for future research. In conclusion, gamification emerges as a crucial tool for enhancing the company-customer relationship in the context of digital marketing.

Efficacy of auxetic lattice structured shoe sole in advancing footwear comfort-From the perspective of plantar pressure and contact area.

Designing footwear for comfort is vital for preventing foot injuries and promoting foot health. This study explores the impact of auxetic structured shoe soles on plantar biomechanics and comfort, motivated by the integration of 3D printing in footwear production and the superior mechanical properties of auxetic designs. The shoe sole designs proposed in this study are based on a three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic lattice structure, orthogonally composed of re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs with internal angles less than 90 degrees. Materials fabricated using this lattice structure exhibit the characteristic of a negative Poisson's ratio, displaying lateral expansion under tension and densification under compression. The study conducted a comparative experiment among three different lattice structured (auxetic 60°, auxetic 75° and non-auxetic 90°) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe soles and conventional polyurethane (PU) shoe sole through pedobarographic measurements and comfort rating under walking and running conditions. The study obtained peak plantar pressures (PPPs) and contact area across seven plantar regions of each shoe sole and analyzed the correlation between these biomechanical parameters and subjective comfort. Compared to non-auxetic shoe soles, auxetic structured shoe soles reduced PPPs across various foot regions and increased contact area. The Auxetic 60°, which had the highest comfort ratings, significantly lowered peak pressures and increased contact area compared to PU shoe sole. Correlation analysis showed that peak pressures in specific foot regions (hallux, second metatarsal head, and hindfoot when walking; second metatarsal head, third to fifth metatarsal head, midfoot, and hindfoot when running) were related to comfort. Furthermore, the contact area in all foot regions was significantly associated with comfort, regardless of the motion states. The pressure-relief performance and conformability of the auxetic lattice structure in the shoe sole contribute to enhancing footwear comfort. The insights provided guide designers in developing footwear focused on foot health and comfort using auxetic structures.

Remanufacturing Shoemaking Machine: Feasibility Study Using AHP and DEMATEL Approach

This study investigates the feasibility of remanufacturing shoemaking machines for sustainability using a combined AHP and DEMATEL approach. The AHP prioritizes machine types for remanufacturing, while the DEMATEL analyzes the interdependencies of influencing factors. Results indicate sole-making equipment as the most suitable candidate, followed by surface and forming equipment. Furthermore, appropriate product design, modularity, and a complete recycling system emerge as crucial for successful strategies. The DEMATEL confirms the foundational role of these factors in influencing a positive corporate image and business model. This study offers valuable insights and recommendations for Taiwan-based shoemaking machine OEMs in India to formulate strategies that promote remanufacturing. The findings highlight the critical role of OEMs in raising customer awareness regarding the environmental and economic benefits of returning end-of-life products and utilizing remanufactured machinery. Effective strategies should emphasize the importance of design for remanufacturing principles, modular machine architectures, and the establishment of comprehensive recycling systems. By fostering customer engagement through such initiatives, OEMs can create a collaborative ecosystem that facilitates the successful implementation of remanufacturing practices within the Indian market. Overall, the study presents a compelling case for remanufacturing as a strategic approach for OEMs to promote a circular economy, resource efficiency, and a sustainable future for footwear production.

Valorisation of Tannery Waste to Recover Chromium with a View to Reusing It in Industrial Practise.

This paper presents the basic assumptions of the concept of a new technology for the valorisation of chromium tannery waste. It assumes the use of an integrated system of the thermal pressure hydrolysis process and membrane filtration techniques for the recovery of chromium compounds and the use of a separated organic matter during anaerobic fermentation. According to the assumptions of the developed technological concept, at the first stage, the crushed mixture of chromium tannery waste is decomposed in the process of thermal pressure hydrolysis using appropriate process conditions in an alkaline environment. Then, the liquid product of this process (the so-called hydrolysate) is processed using centrifugal force separation and ultrafiltration. Such activities enable the recovery of chromium compounds for rawhide currying and concentration of organic matter (fats, proteins) with energy potential. Research carried out under conditions similar to real operating conditions proved that chromium compounds recovered from waste can be successfully used in the processing of cowhides intended for the production of footwear. The industrial implementation of the developed technology for valorising chromium tannery waste would enable the transition from a linear to a circular economy.

Regenerated products from leather industrial solid waste: Future perspective and current advances

The removal of chrome waste (CW) has been identified as a significant environmental problem due to chromium's toxicity. This study tried to make a regenerated flexible sheet (RFS) with a leather alternative effect from chrome waste powder (CWP), cardboard waste fiber (CBWF), and protein binder (PB) fabricated by the hydraulic wet and hot press method. The prepared RFS was characterized by its High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical analysis, and biodegradation properties. The result showed the strong binding achieved with fiber/polymer membrane for RFS. In this regard, RFS with suitable mechanical properties such as tensile strength (37.54 ± 1.32 MPa), elongation at break (33.64 ± 0.52 %), flexibility (5.34 ± 0.67 %), water absorption (27.74 ± 1.56 %), and water desorption (27.46 ± 0.76 %) properties. RFS possessed the required mechanical properties for leather sheet production and it was also biodegradable. The study proves that these composites could be successfully used for the production of cost-effective leather goods and footwear production. Production of useful byproducts from waste is income generating and at the same time reduces environmental pollution and a feasible technology for waste recycling has been proved in this study.

Chromium(VI) removal from water using different bio-adsorbents: Comparison and scope in the treatment of local water bodies with economic analysis

Tannery industries are an important part of India’s economy. India has huge production and consumption of footwear in the world. Leather goods and footwear exports in India were set to reach $5.26 billion in 2022–23. These tannery industries require 40m3 of fresh water per ton of raw material.The water released by these industries are highly contaminated with Cr(VI). Apart from tannery industries,other industrial processes like electroplating, pigmentation also release chromium into the environment. Cr(VI) has adverse effects on humans health, animals and plants. Bio-absorbents exhibit good absorption capacity for Cr(VI). Five different bio-adsorbents have been used,which were collected from wastes.There is hardly any research that shows relation between percentage removal of chromium with respect to size of bio-adsorbents.This study is presented in the same direction. A stock solution was prepared in the laboratory that had similarity in chromium concentration with tannery effluent.Titration (quantitative analysis) was used.On comparison, it was found that pomegranate peel and water chestnut shell showed better Cr(VI) absorption capacity upto 97.83%. A schematic idea has been proposed for the removal of Cr(VI) from drinking water used in rural areas. Economic analysis of the use of these bio-absorbents has proven it to be a better option for Cr(VI)capture.

The Relevance of Green Purchasing and Ecodesign for the Consolidation of Green Manufacturing in Footwear Production

The Relevance of Green Purchasing and Ecodesign for the Consolidation of Green Manufacturing in Footwear Production

Measuring Brand Personality of Footwear Brands in Bangladesh: Application of Aaker’s Brand Personality Scale

As the brand personality serves as a fundamental framework for studies concerning brand equity, brand image, and brand extension, that’s why brand personality is the main focus of this study. The purpose of this study is to measure the users' perceptions of the brand personality (BP) of footwear brands (such as Bata, Apex and Lotto) and to identify the dimensions that exist in the footwear industry in Bangladesh. This study applies Aaker's brand personality scale (BPS) to footwear brands in order to test the extent to which it is applicable to the brands and to investigate the fundamental structure of the brand personality of footwear brands. The data was acquired through the use of a questionnaire survey. A quantitative strategy was utilized to collect the data. For the purpose of the study, a total of 430respondent’s data were collected from different cities of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Rangpur division. In order to investigate the fundamental structure of the BP of footwear brands, descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were carried out. Study finds all the five dimensions (sincerity, excitement, sophistication, competence and ruggedness) of brand personality was extracted though the factor analysis of which ruggedness and sophistication are relatively lower than the others dimension within the realm of footwear industry. It has been found a comprehensive brand personality of footwear products and brand with the impact of all dimension of BPS and model holds a bold factor loading for all items it has. The novelty of the study lies in variable settings and arrangement, study area and context. No other research has been carried out in the context of footwear industry neither in Bangladesh nor elsewhere. There is also no evidence of research has been examined the relationship of brand personality, brand preference and brand loyalty. This study will help the marketer and the marketing practitioner to understand the dimension of brand personality, the impact of each brand personality dimensions and to identify the weaker personality dimensions that need more attention.

Shoe customization in a mass-production mode

There is a growing trend where footwear is considered a fashion item by increasing in this way the number of footwear products in the market. This is translated to carbon footprints which is a global issue. Reducing the number of footwear can be achieved by focusing on customization. Shifting from mass production to customization is highly supported by digital technologies. A case study of shoe customization in the mass production mode is presented. Implemented in a shoe manufacturing environment, the possibility of using one node of the bottom in combination with various options for the shoe not only results in success in terms of fit and comfort but at the same time promotes sustainable production. This methodology aligns with the sustainability goals in the footwear industry while expanding the range of shoes.

Analysis of the Marketing Methods of Nike Based on 4P Theory.

With the continuous development of information technology and socio-economic development, consumer groups are in a constant state of change in terms of their consumption patterns and habits. Therefore, it is important to analyse the marketing methods of the leading brands in the industry at any given point. This will not only allow headline companies to analyse whether their marketing methods are in tune with the times, but will also allow smaller companies to learn from the results of the analysis. This essay examines Nike's marketing tactics through the research method of literature analysis from 4P analysis method to study Nike's marketing tactics. After analyzing Nike marketing, it can be found that although the products of Nike have a huge product range, footwear products as the main commodity account for too large. In terms of price, although the pricing range is wide, it helps to attract customers but affects its brand positioning. At the same time, in terms of promotion and place, while having advantages, there are also problems such as spokesperson risk and insufficient development of online channels.

ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL AGE AND AGING RATE OF FOOTWEAR ENTERPRISES WORKERS

Biological age (BA), as a criterion for assessing health, can also be viewed as a marker of material aging resulting from occupational exposure to factors in the industrial environment.
 Aim. To determine the biological age and aging rates of workers in the footwear industry.
 Materials and Methods. The research group included 200 workers from footwear enterprises (119 males and 81 females) aged 25-62. They were distributed based on their primary workshops and occupational hazards as follows: isolated exposure to occupational noise (Group 1): 61 males and 35 females, combined exposure to occupational noise and chemicals (Group 2): 57 males and 47 females. The control group - 54 workers: 26 males and 28 females who were not exposed to these production factors during their work activities. Additionally, the workers were divided into groups based on their work experience in the profession: up to 5 years, 6-14 years, and 15-21 years. BA and aging rates were determined using the methodology developed by the Institute of Gerontology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.
 Results and Discussion. The presence of unfavourable occupational factors in constant workplaces, particularly in isolated (occupational noise) and combined (occupational noise and chemical substances) conditions, is a significant contributing factor to premature aging among workers engaged in footwear production. In Group 1 of male workers, the BA-NBA (normative biological age) index exceeded 5.22 [4.81; 6.11], in Group 2 - 7.79 [6.29; 9.11], compared with the control - 3.96 [3.21; 4.2]. For female workers, this difference is 4.81 [4.29; 5.22] and 5.84 [5.26; 6,44]. The maximum aging rates were observed in work experience groups up to 5 years, regardless of the combination of occupational factors and young workers (age group up to 30 years) in both gender groups were for Group 1 - 8.11 [7.55; 8.29] (male) and 6.37 [6.15; 7.01] (female); Group 2 - 11.68 [11.18; 12.49] (male) and 8.81 [8.39; 9.54] respectively. Aging rates drop down with age and job experience, which can be attributed to workers' improved capacity to adapt to challenging working conditions.
 Conclusions. The determination of BA in workers can be utilized at the preliminary and periodic medical examinations to determine occupational risk groups and profession selection, as well as to evaluate the effect of elements in the production environment and labour process on the functional state of the body.

Structural and Physiological Properties of Footwear Textiles

Abstract Textile uppers in the form of fitted knitted fabrics are now gaining in importance in the production of commercial footwear. The subject of this study was twelve different textile uppers and two reference leather materials. Structural properties and parameters of physiological comfort were characterized for selected variants. In order to analyze the thermo-physiological properties of the upper parts of the footwear, air permeability, thermal insulation properties, water vapor permeability and sorption properties were measured. Among the variants of textile uppers analyzed, the most desirable functional properties were shown by knitted fabrics made on cylindrical crochet machines of large diameters. The varnished cowhide leather variant was characterized by the worst hygienic properties.