The part of a shoe beneath the back of the foot, often raised above the level of the forefoot.
A shoe heel supports the back of the foot and can be built in different ways. Historical Rushden Boot and Shoe School notes describe making heels from layers called lifts, graded by size, stacked and compressed before attachment. A separate patent describes a plastic heel containing steel reinforcement. These illustrate the distinction between a layered heel and a moulded structure. The ground-contact top piece is a separate part of the assembly and takes wear. Heel construction concerns the support beneath the foot, while a heel counter reinforces the back of the upper.
In job listings
Listings tend to refer to footwear in general rather than to its parts. In design and development work, heel height and shape are specified precisely. In sales, they are often the first thing a client asks about. Search local jobs for “footwear”.
