How to approve footwear fit across sizes
Approve finished pairs in every intended size against an agreed last and fit brief. Trial them with the intended socks, compare left and right shoes, and link each approved fit to its size marking before releasing production. Coordinate the factory records and retained samples through Cambridge China Bridge.
Define the fit and identify the lasts
Brief the factory on the intended wearer, activity, width options, fastening and socks. A last is the form around which the shoe is shaped. Ask for its reference and revision for every size, including how its shape changes across the range. Keep the last records tied to the style rather than accepting a generic size conversion chart.
Record the approved toe shape, forefoot room, instep volume and heel hold. Agree who controls the lasts and how changes will be approved. The own-brand footwear guide covers the wider sourcing brief; use this fit record to define what the finished shoes should feel like.
Approve finished pairs across the range
Request finished pairs in every size you intend to sell, made with the proposed production materials, lining, insole and sole. Start with a reference size to resolve the basic shape, then assess the whole range before approval. Do not infer the fit of smaller or larger sizes from a satisfactory reference sample.
Agree measurement points, tools, units and tolerances with the factory. Record how length, width, instep and heel shape progress between sizes, and investigate unexpected jumps or repeated dimensions. A removable insole can support comparison but does not establish usable space inside the shoe. Use factory measurement checks to make the records comparable.
Check paired shoes and trial the intended socks
Compare left and right shoes for the same size and revision. Check corresponding dimensions, heel height, toe shape, lining placement, insole seating and fastening adjustment. Compare matching features as mirror images. If a wearer reports unequal fit, inspect the shoes and record differences between their feet before attributing the problem to the factory.
Use wearers whose measured feet represent the intended customers in the relevant sizes and widths. Record the sock type and thickness, foot measurements and sample identity. Ask them to stand, walk, turn and use the fastening as intended. Note toe contact, forefoot pressure, instep pressure, heel slip and rubbing separately for each foot. Stop a trial that causes pain and investigate.
Match size markings to the approved fit
Create a size mapping record linking the last reference, finished sample, fitting result and approved size marking. Check markings inside the shoes and on soles, boxes and stock records against that mapping. Treat conversion tables as proposals to verify through the trials. A matching box label cannot resolve a shoe made on the wrong last.
UK government guidance says information included on a product label must be accurate. Keep size approval separate from material-label approval, using the footwear material-label guide for that task. If a marking or fit is wrong, hold the affected stock, establish the cause and approve the correction before release.
Carry fit approval into production
Keep labelled approval pairs with the buyer and factory, alongside last revisions, measurement records, sock details, trial findings and the size mapping. State which sizes are approved and which remain unresolved. Require renewed fit approval when changes to lasts, lining, insole, upper materials or construction could alter internal space or heel hold.
Compare pairs from the actual production batch with the retained samples across the ordered size range. Check pair matching and shoe-to-box markings alongside the agreed measurements. Use the bulk production and sample guide for the wider release process. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate these factory checks through its own staff in China, while you retain the fit approval decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I approve a shoe range from a reference size?
Use it to resolve the basic shape, then approve finished pairs in every intended size. Record unresolved sizes explicitly rather than extending approval by assumption.
Which socks should footwear fitting trials use?
Use the socks intended for the product’s normal use. Record their type and thickness so repeat trials are comparable, and assess alternatives if customers will use different socks.
What if the left and right shoe fit differently?
Check pair identity, corresponding dimensions, lining, insole seating and fastening. Record the wearer’s foot differences too, then investigate whether the mismatch follows the shoes or the wearer.
Can I use the factory’s shoe size conversion chart?
Use it as a proposed mapping. Verify finished pairs through fitting trials, then approve the markings for each size and check that shoes, boxes and stock records agree.