ABSTRACT
Footwear has become increasingly specialized for a variety of tasks and functions. Currently, there are shoes for almost all sports and occasions. Footwear has become an integral part of our life and we cannot go without it. To tap into the growing footwear market, most footwear companies have come up with innovative ideas, yet the basic footwear sizing, which affects comfort and fit, has not changed in ages (Luximon 2001). The footwear shape and size are determined by a shoe last, a mould over which the footwear is constructed. The last, shown in Figure 1, comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word laest, which means a footprint or a foot track. As the shoe last is responsible for the size, shape and form of the shoe, it is usually referred to as the heart of the shoe. The shoe upper takes the shape of the
last and soft upper, made with breathable material, aids in footwear comfort and fit.
