ABSTRACT
The mechanization of the footwear industry started during the seventeenth century after the invention of sewing machines and equipment to roll sole leather (Quimby, 1944), and prior to that the shoe production was completely manual. In today’s society, footwear has become increasingly specialized for a variety of tasks and functions. Shoes have increased in complexity with the incorporation of functionality to improve user performance and comforts. Hence, it is not surprising to see hundreds of new varieties of sport shoes and fashion shoes every season.
