Footwear Materials
A B2B buyer's reference to the materials that determine a shoe's quality tier, price band, and end-use performance. Every material below is available from Chinese manufacturers in volume; the differentiation is in grade and process.
Leather
Full-grain, top-grain, corrected-grain, suede, nubuck. The premium uppers tier.
28 articlesLeather Types
A taxonomy of leathers used in footwear: by animal, by layer, by finish.
45 articlesSynthetic Materials
PU, microfiber, PVC, TPU. The mid-tier and vegan-leather category.
38 articlesTextiles & Mesh
Canvas, knit, woven mesh. The athletic and casual workhorse uppers.
34 articlesEVA Midsoles
The dominant cushioning compound. Density, hardness, molding processes.
19 articlesRubber Soles
Natural and synthetic rubber outsoles. Traction, durability, slip resistance.
22 articles