A systematic approach for developing a foot size information system for shoe last design

Abstract

The property of a shoe last design significantly impacts the fitness of the shoes thus produced. Traditionally, a shoe last is designed by using numerous foot measure data. Among all the items of foot measure information, the foot length and joint girth are further identified as principle factors affecting shoe last design. In this paper, foot length and joint girth are analyzed by using a bi-variate normal distribution to obtain a more efficient foot size grading system. A set of 2486 adult male samples collected in Taiwan area are used in this analysis to establish the norm for the foot length and joint girth. A foot size information system (FSIS) providing shoe last related information such as the percentage of population that a last can fit in is established from the analysis results. This study contributes designers the grading information that is helpful for shoe last design. Relevance to industry Shoe last design is the basis for footwear design. The foot size information system derived in this paper provides shoe making industry with a more efficient and economical size grading system to design shoe lasts. This grading system also promotes customer satisfaction with better fitness in foot size. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.