A reinforcing piece beneath the arch of a shoe, between the insole and outsole.
The shank is a rigid piece set under the arch, between the insole and the outsole or midsole. Paraboot lists metal, leather or beechwood as materials and says the shank gives the shoe its rigidity at the arch, between forefoot and heel. Grenson describes a wooden shank that supports the arch of the foot.
It goes in before the sole. At Crockett & Jones the bottoms of Goodyear-welted shoes are filled with cork and wooden shanks are inserted beneath the insoles, and only then are the soles stitched to the welt. Carmina inserts a metal shank in the heel area to reinforce the structure of its welted shoes. Even a welted shoe designed to flex from the first wear keeps one: Meermin’s UltraFlex construction uses cork filling and a steel shank in the back part for support and stability.
In job listings
Shanks rarely appear by name in listings. They belong to the construction knowledge asked of shoemaking production and prototype assembly roles, and to the after-sales work of bootmakers and in-store artisans who repair and resole shoes. See current shoemaking roles.
