All About Shoe Lasts
How To Choose Shoe Lasts For Your Shoe Line - The 6 Best Types of Shoe Lasts for Women (Shoe Lasting Guide)
At Softlux, we make shoes on a wide range of Lasts. Shoe Lasts are foot-shaped types that offer shoemakers a foundation for making a shoe. By picking shoes made on the Last that the majority of looks like the shapes and subtleties of your feet, you can surely appreciate a premium in shape while improving the efficiency and the comfort of your shoes. Our shoes are made over each Last using 3 different techniques, welted, handsewn, and also sealed building.
Shoe Last No.137
A shoe lasts with a pointy toe. Good for making elegant dress heels and boots.
Shoe Last No.138
Slightly square toe shoe last, with an elongated forepart, can be used for pumps, boots.
Shoe Last No.152
NO. 153 is characterized by its width and the rounded toe area.
Shoe Last No.D449
A refined dress shoes last with soft rounded square toe shape
Shoe Last No.KG029
The KG029 last was designed to be a true ‘boot’ last, with a wider forefoot for more room up front and a higher toe box for added volume and comfort.
Shoe Last No.SB031
This shoe last has been developed to manufacture lady's heels/pumps models. It has a rounded toe shape.
Shoe lasts the critical component of any shoemaker’s shoe business. The wrong choice of lasts can ruin a shoe’s quality and even cause a company to lose its customers.
So how do you decide which styles of shoes to include in your shoe line? The first thing you should do is create a mood board. This is a collage of images or inspiration that you collect from magazines, other websites, ads, or others that may inspire you.
Use your mood board to narrow down the number of styles to feature. Another way to develop ideas for your shoe line is to look at what the competitors are doing. If you notice trends in the industry or a particular style of shoe that seems to resonate with consumers, use that as a jumping-off point for your line. When you’re ready to move forward with your idea, you’ll need to start working out the details of your business plan, which includes pricing, delivery costs, marketing strategy, and more. Start with the basics, like making sure your website or landing page is fully functional and easy to navigate.
Introduction: When choosing shoes last, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Different shoes have different shapes, so each type of shoe last requires a specific shape. With that in mind, here are six shoe last styles that will suit various women’s foot shapes.
Choosing a shoe that lasts is one of the most important tasks when developing a shoe line because it is so directly related to the shape of the shoe’s footbed and its final fit.
1. What is a Shoe Last?
A shoe last is an object used to shape the final form of a shoe’s uppers or soles. It can be made from wood, plastic, rubber, leather, or other materials, and it may be shaped using machines or by hand. A shoe that lasts can be flat or curved, depending on the type of shoe created. They can also be used to create multiple styles of shoes, such as high-heeled, sandal, and slip-on shoes. Shoe lasts commonly used in the manufacture of moccasins, sneakers, slippers, and boots.
2. How Do You Choose a Good Shoe Last?
This is not just an important question, but it can help your business grow and be successful. A good shoe last is the foundation of a good shoe. It’s the core element that holds your shoe together. This question is asking about choosing the proper “last.” When you start a new project, you should always choose a good “last” first.
Shoe manufacturers are constantly testing new lasts and materials to make the shoes look better and last longer. They are also improving the technology used to sew the uppers onto the soles of the shoes. So how do you choose a good shoe last for your shoe line? If the shoemaker has done their job correctly, the answer is quite simple. Suppose a manufacturer doesn’t take the time to use quality material, finish the process correctly, and stitch up the lasts. In that case, the result is usually a low-quality pair of shoes that don’t last long.
3. Shoe Last Type #1: A Sturdy Last
It depends on the footwear category. If you’re selling women’s dress shoes, go with the classic Last. It’s classic, iconic, and will appeal to most of your customers. If you’re creating a men’s dress shoe line, it may be worth choosing a narrower Last. This will give your shoes a slimmer look and feel and appeal to those who prefer a more streamlined look.
4. Shoe Last Type #2: A Slimmed Last
There are three main categories of shoe brands: luxury, mass market, and slim. Slimmed shoes are popular with women looking for an easy yet stylish look that comes without the expense of high-end fashion. Many people mistakenly believe that only women’s shoes are slimmed and that men’s shoes are not. However, many men wear slimmed shoes as part of a wardrobe, and it’s important to remember that this trend can be found at any price point, men’s and women’s.
If you decide to do a slimming last, you’re left with a skinny last or a wide last. I’d recommend going with a narrow last because there’s something to be said for simplicity. It’s better to limit yourself to three or four different types of lasts than to have 10 or 20. If you’re looking to expand your business, the fewer types of shoes that you have in your inventory, the better off you’ll be.
I love a narrow last. It makes for a perfect fit, and I’m never worried about the shoe slipping off my foot. On the other hand, it’s hard to keep track of all those different width options that you could choose to put into your shoes. So instead of taking the extra time to count the many different width options, you can make, I recommend picking a slimmed-down last. It will give your customer the exact fit without the hassle of calculating their shoe size.
5. Shoe Last Type #3: A pointy toe shoe Last
Why should you use a pointy toe shoe last in your shoe line? Because it makes a better, sleeker shoe! Shoemakers often use a pointy toe shoe last because the pointy tip makes the shoe look neater. There are pros and cons to each shoe maker’s method. Still, it’s a pretty safe bet to say that having a pointy toe tip on your shoes gives your shoemaking business a more professional, polished look.
6. Shoe Last Type #4: A stylized shoe Last
A Stylized shoe Last is a great way to add unique styles to your shoe collection. To make a shoe line feel cohesive and stylish, look for the same type of shoe last in various sizes, widths, and shapes. Stylized shoe lasts can easily be found at shoe suppliers like Softlux. When you order a specific stylized shoe last, you can even custom design it to fit your shoe line perfectly. The result is shoes that don’t look like everyone else’s.
7. Shoe Last Type #5: A rounded toe shoe Last
A rounded toe is usually considered an indicator of quality because it signals a shoe’s durability. In addition to being easier on your feet, the rounded toe provides an elegant and sophisticated appeal that’s highly desirable to consumers. However, the design is not appropriate for every shoe style. A rounded toe can be more easily applied to a shoe, such as a high heel dress or sandals.
Choosing a rounded toe shoe last has many benefits. A rounded toe shoe is a shoe last made in a round shape. The advantage is that the shoes made with a rounded toe last are more comfortable and are easier to walk in. Also, these rounded-toe shoes are ideal for women who suffer from flat feet. Flat feet are feet that are flat when compared to the contours of an everyday shoe. Flat feet are standard in women, but men also suffer from this affliction. Rounded-toe shoes are often better for people who suffer from flat feet.
8. Shoe Last Type #6: A Chelsea boot last Last
A Chelsea boot is a fashion staple in every woman’s wardrobe. If you’re thinking about adding a boot to your shoe collection, here are three reasons why you should choose the A Chelsea boot:
- Chelsea boots are incredibly versatile. They can be worn in all seasons and with almost any outfit.
- You can pair these boots with just about any other style.
- The A Chelsea boot is one of the most affordable boots today.
It’s also available in various colors, styles, and sizes.
The concept behind the Pump/Heel shoes is simple: a comfortable shoe that is stylish, trendy, and functional. But what sets the Pump/Heel shoes apart from other athletic shoes is the addition of a cushioning technology called “The Sole.”
The Sole is a thin layer of material located directly between the bottom of the shoe and the wearer’s foot. The Sole provides shock absorption and helps absorb sweat. A pump/heel shoe is a highly versatile shoe that can be worn on its own or incorporated into the design of various styles, from loafers to slip-on to clogs.
In conclusion, the six types of shoes last work best for women’s shoes and boots. Our customers’ last use the most are the “pointy toe, stylized, rounded toe, Chelsea boot, pump/heel.” This is the most popular type of last and is the one that I use in 95% of my boot orders. But I use other lasts as well, depending on what I am making and if it is a design that is particularly hard to do with a particular style last.
The most important thing to remember when ordering shoes lasts is that the last type should be based on the shoe’s intended shape, heel height, and comfort level. And the right last type will help you make the best product!