The last
"The cobbler who does not know his last will remain forever a bungler"
(Goethe)
The term "last" refers to the foot-shaped, pre-formed wooden or plastic mould on which the shoe is built.
The shoe (or the upper of the shoe) is basically modelled around the last, to produce the characteristic fit peculiar to the manufacturer or to the use for which the footwear is intended and to guarantee that the comfortable fit extends also to the inner.
Each type of shoe or boot has its own special lasts, which are modelled in accordance with particular requirements and the personal experience of the shoemaker.
At LOWA, of course, we use specially shaped lasts for our ladies´ models.
2012