The tongue, an upper, a mid- and outsole and also an overlay. A sneaker has many parts which can sometimes make it very complicated. To help you, we explain in this blog how a sneaker is constructed.

Blueprint of a sneaker
A sneaker consists of many different parts and materials. The blueprint of a design differs per brand and model, which sometimes makes it difficult to understand a shoe.

We start from the top with the upper. The upper is the upper of the sneaker and sits over your entire foot. The upper can be divided into the middle and back piece. The nose and toebox at the front of the shoe also fall under the upper.

You can best describe the upper as the base of the pair. The material of the sneaker differs per silhouette. Most winter sneakers have a leather upper, while the summer pairs often have an upper made of textile or mesh.

The Swoosh is one of the most iconic trademarks. There are many different swooshes. For instant, the swoosh on the Air Max 1 is different from the air force 1.

The quarter or center panel is part of the upper. This part of the sneaker sits on the sides of your foot in the middle of the design. The part is often used for decoration and keeps the model flexible.

The logo of the brand can often be found on this part of the sneaker. Think of the Swoosh of Nike or the N logo of New Balance.

The overlays (or layers) are the parts that are on the upper of the sneaker. They give the couple extra strength and often serve as decoration. Overlays vary by model or brand and are often made of leather or suede. The colors and decorations on the overlays largely determine the design of the kicks.

The toebox is the front part of the shoe. This part is around the toes and can sometimes be confused with the term 'nose'. The toebox is the part that is on the top of your toes and often has perforation holes. The material of this part can be made of leather, mesh or textile.

The mudguard is also part of the upper. This element is the lower part of the upper that sits above the sole. The mudguard is intended to reinforce the shoe and often also serves as decoration. Because the mudguard is just above the midsole, it is often made of leather, suede or other waterproof material.

The collar sits above the heel and provides reinforcement at the ankles. On the collar is the 'eyestay', the lace hole through which the lace goes.

The tongue is the flap on the top of the model. The laces often run over this and the logo of the brand can be found.

The tongue runs over your instep and is often a bit softer than the rest of the sneaker. This is for comfort and flexibility.

Air Max 1 Patterns

NFT Air Force 1

Purple Storm