What Is the Manufacturing Process of a Tennis Shoe?

Tennis shoes are designed and then manufactured using many materials.

You wear your tennis shoes to play court sports, but you probably don't think about how they were made. Your shoes were designed and manufactured before you ever even tried them on.

Design and Development

A designer is someone who draws what he thinks a shoe company's next shoe will look like. He decides what kind of tennis player, such as a beginner or an advanced athlete, will wear the shoe. He may consider what type of court the player will play on. Once his design has been approved, a factory develops patterns for each part of the shoe.

Stitching and Molding

Factory workers gather the materials, such as leather, canvas and rubber, that they will need to make your shoe. They cut each part using the patterns that they have already made, and then begin stitching the upper portion of the shoe together. They mold the rubber sole of the shoe and then stitch it to the upper portion of the shoe.

Considerations

Making tennis shoes is a complex process. Even a simple shoe may consist of 50 parts, all of which need to be stitched together! Between 100 and 300 factory workers may have worked on making your shoes.

References

• The Sneaker Factory: "Learn How Sneakers Are Made"
• Dick's Sporting Goods: "How to Buy Tennis Shoes"