Rubber Coated Fabric for Footwear — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Rubber Coated Fabric for Footwear: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Rubber Coated Fabric is the version buyers specify for footwear when the base material is fixed by performance rather than by price. This entry sets out what the material actually changes, which specification to write into the tech pack, and where the cost sits — the three questions that decide whether the item passes bulk approval.
What it is
Rubber gives coated fabric its drape and hand feel. In practice that means the fabric behaves differently in cutting, in finishing and in wear: tighter tolerance is needed on the finished dimension. Buyers who specify the material up front avoid the most common failure — an item that looks right on the sample card and behaves differently in bulk.
Typical specification
| Item | Coated Fabric |
|---|---|
| Base material | Rubber |
| Standard size | 450 gsm |
| Common finishes | Antique Brass Plating, Brushed Silver Finish, Antique Copper Finish |
| Processes | Laser Cutting, Warp Knitting, Enamel Filling |
| Typical application | Footwear |
| Related applications | Outdoor Tents, Kidswear, Uniforms, Blouses |
| Test standard | GB 18401 |
| Usual packing | 200 pieces per polybag, 5000 per carton |
Properties that matter in buying
- Dimensional stability — 2% allowance is built into the spec before cutting.
- Colour fastness — tested to GB 18401 on the actual base material, not on a substitute.
- Mechanical performance — elastic recovery after 20 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — GB 18401 documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Footwear
- Backpacks
- Jeans
- Evening Wear
- Outdoor Tents
- Down Jackets
How to specify it
- Name the base material in the tech pack, not just the item.
- Fix the size and tolerance in writing before sampling starts.
- Approve a counter sample made from the actual bulk base material.
- Order the test report against the standard your market requires.
- Retain a golden sample at the factory and a second one with you.
Related reading
Related specifications on this site cover mulberry silk fabric, recycled cotton fabric, knitted elastic, cotton fabric, and the processes most often paired with coated fabric include embroidery, anti-pilling finish, electroplating.
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
