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A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Swedish läst, Danish læste, German Leisten. Lasts come in many styles and sizes, depending on the exact job they are designed for. Common variations include simple one-size lasts used for repairing soles and heels, durable lasts used in modern mass production, and custom-made lasts used in the making of bespoke footwear.

Today, wooden lasts are generally used only for bespoke shoemaking, particularly in Europe and North America. Cordwainers, or bespoke shoemakers, often use lasts that are specifically designed to the proportions of individual customers’ feet. Made from various modern materials, they don’t need to withstand the pressures of mass production machinery, but they must be able to handle constant tacking and pinning, and the wet environment associated with stretching and shaping materials such as leather. Handbook of Footwear Design and Manufacture. Dictionnaire Etymologique des Aglicismes et des Américanismes.