Welt (shoe)

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A welt is a strip of leather, rubber, or plastic that is stitched to the upper and insole of a shoe, as an attach-point for the sole. The space enclosed by the welt is then filled with cork or some other filler material (usually either porous or perforated, for breathability), and the outsole is both cemented and stitched to the welt. This process of making shoes is referred to as Goodyear Welt construction, as the machinery used for the process was invented by the son of Charles Goodyear. Shoes with other types of construction may also have welts for finished appearance, but they generally serve little or no structural purpose.

[edit] Goodyear welt

The Goodyear welt is a method of attaching the sole of a shoe to the upper. This currently used method is built upon the earlier inventive work of shoe manufacturer Christian Dancel (1847-1898). The upper is drawn over the last and held temporarily whilst a strip of leather (the welt) is stitched to the upper and inner sole. The sole is hand-stitched through the Welt to complete the process. This construction allows multiple sole replacements, extending the life of the footwear.

Goodyear welts are characteristic of high-end handmade British shoes.