Overview
ISO 19952:2025 - Footwear - Vocabulary is the second edition of an international vocabulary standard that defines terms used across the footwear industry. Prepared by ISO/TC 216 in cooperation with CEN/TC 309, the document standardizes terminology for materials, manufacturing processes, components, footwear types and performance-related expressions to improve clarity and interoperability across design, production, testing and trade. This edition updates the 2005 version by adding new terms, combining synonyms, and revising definitions to reflect industry developments.
Key topics and technical scope
This vocabulary standard organizes terms into clear sections (see clause numbers in the standard):
- 3.1 Footwear materials - terms such as adhesive, leather, coated fabric, foam, reinforcement, foxing, bridge and combined material.
- 3.2 Footwear manufacturing - processes and constructions including cemented construction, Goodyear welted, Blake sewn, direct moulding (injection moulding, direct vulcanizing, reaction moulding), buffing, edge finishing and bottom assembly.
- 3.3 Footwear components - definitions for components that make up footwear (upper, insole, outsole, heel elements, top piece, etc.).
- 3.4 Footwear type - standardized naming of different kinds of footwear (children’s footwear and other types are defined).
- 3.5 Footwear performance - terms used when describing functional or safety-related performance characteristics.
- 3.6 Other terms, bibliography and index - additional cross‑references and sources.
Note: ISO 19952:2025 is a vocabulary (terminology) standard - it defines language and concepts rather than specifying performance limits or test methods. The standard contains no normative references.
Practical applications
- Ensures consistent terminology in technical specifications, contracts and product labels (reduces disputes and misinterpretation).
- Supports clear communication between designers, manufacturers, component suppliers, testing laboratories and regulators.
- Aids technical writers, standards authors, translators and educators by providing authoritative definitions.
- Helps procurement and quality teams align contract language with industry‑accepted terms (e.g., “cemented construction”, “Goodyear welted”, “multilayer sole”).
Who will use this standard
- Footwear designers and product developers
- Manufacturers and factory engineers
- Quality assurance and compliance teams
- Testing laboratories and certification bodies
- Trade associations, procurement specialists and legal teams
- Academics and technical translators working in footwear technology
Related standards and resources
- ISO Online Browsing Platform (terminology lookup)
- IEC Electropedia (general electrotechnical terms)
- ISO/IEC Directives (document development rules)
- References cited in the standard (e.g., ISO 15115 for leather terminology)
Keywords: ISO 19952:2025, footwear vocabulary, footwear terminology, shoe manufacturing terms, Goodyear welted, Blake sewn, cemented construction, footwear materials.
