The making of a Kickers shoe includes several stages implying the work of different professionals.
 

The designer's office

The life of a Kickers shoe starts in the designers’ office.
Our designers, always informed of the last trends in the shoe market define the LAST (designed copy of the foot) and the sole unit and set up the fitting properties of the style.

After having defined the last and the sole unit, our designers draw the different styles that make up our collections. Their drawings are first made on paper then transferred on a last.

Our pattern cutters lay the lines of the model flat in order to transfer them into pattern in the computer by the use of a CAD software. This software enables them to draw the different parts of the model and graduate automatically the several sizes
 

Cutting and stitching

While drawing the style the designer decides of the materials and colours to be used for a specific model
The different parts of the upper shoe are defined by CAD.

These parts are cut in selected skins with a PRESS KNIFE.

Then the pieces are prepared (skived: thinned on the outside to avoid thickness at the assembling points), folded, gimped, perforated …), then stitched or joined together to become a finished unit called the UPPER.
 

The shoe elements

Quarter: upper part of the shoe covering the sides and the back

Upper: upper part of the shoe above the sole consisting of the front of the shoe (VAMP), the quarter (sides and back), and the linings.

Stiffener: counter placed on the back portion of the shoe to support the rearfoot.

Sole unit: Made of TR, rubber, crepe or EVA

Shank: piece of metal placed in the sole unit to reinforce the waist of the shoe and prevents it from collapsing or distorting in wear.

Gutta percha: coated piece of fabric heat glued to the skin to reinforce certain areas of the shoe.

Hard toe puff: stiffener on the front part of the shoe to retain the shape of the forefoot.
 

Lasting

The upper is put on the last to give shape to the shoe. It is then fixed to the insole and the outsole by different techniques:
The technique most used by Kickers is the Veldt or Kneipp technique.

The specific property of the Veldt technique is that the insole is larger than the last.
The upper is turned out at the edge of the last and glued to the extension of the insole. Then the edges are trimmed to obtain a clean edge.
This assembled unit is then stitched to the outsole.
This method produces lightweight and resistant flexible soles. This method was initially used to produce children’s shoes but is now also used for the fabrication of adult shoes.

The soles are made of leather or traditional rubber: the essential components for high quality shoes.

 

Finish

The assembled shoes are inspected on quality and colour shades, cleaned to take off eventual glue stains and completed: the laces, sockliner and component label are arranged. Then the shoes are ready for packaging.

Each model passes through various fitting tests within the company, in schools and playgrounds to offer the best comfort and make sure the shoe will maintain its excellent quality.