what-when-how
In Depth Tutorials and Information
Quarter
Top line
Throat opening
Vamp
Heel counter
internal
stiffening
Toe cap with
internal stiffening
Heel and sole
Figure 5.1
Parts of a shoe
Vamp
The upper is made of two main sections which together are moulded to
form the upper of the shoe. The front section is termed the vamp and
this covers the forefoot and the toes. In some shoe designs, the vamp
can be decorative and made of more than one piece, or embellished with
different materials or stitching. There may be problems with this area if
the stitching and seams are too numerous, as these prevent stretching
of the vamp material over the forefoot and toes and may lead to pressure
on bony prominences. The vamp is usually reinforced in the toe area with
a stiffer moulded material called a toe puff. This toe puff retains the shape
of the front of the shoe and prevents it collapsing onto the toes. The toe
puff can be made from a variety of materials including leather, manmade
materials or, in the case of safety footwear, steel. In lace-up shoes and
those with fastenings, the tongue of the shoe is attached to the vamp.
The toe cap is a reinforcing cover stitched over the front of the vamp. It
can be decorative in certain styles of shoe such as the brogue. In safety
footwear there is a reinforcing and protective metal toe cap underneath
the leather one.
Key
Concept
It is desirable for the vamp to be seamless with the toe puff supporting
the front of the shoe so that the material does not collapse onto the
toes.
Quarter
The sides and back of the upper are termed the quarters, and the top
edge is termed the top line. The inner and outer sections of the top line
