Overview
ISO 20537:2025 - Footwear - Identification of defects during visual inspection - Vocabulary is the first-edition ISO vocabulary for describing appearance and construction faults in finished footwear. The standard defines the most common terms related to defects that can be identified by visual inspection of footwear after manufacture, storage or use. Photographs in the document are illustrative only and do not represent every possible instance. ISO 20537:2025 is intended as a reference and training resource for consistent defect identification across the footwear value chain.
Key topics and technical scope
ISO 20537:2025 organizes terminology by defect type and component, helping standardize inspection language for quality control and reporting. Major sections include:
- General defects: colour variation, soiling, mildew, spue, poor printing, non‑compliant box.
- Defects in material aspects: discolouration, crazing, pit, shade variation, sulphur blooming, impurities.
- Defects in components:
- Upper (creases, delamination, grain crack, exposed lasting margin)
- Counter and toe puff (collapsed/uneven counter or toe puff)
- Lining and insock (creased lining, separated lining, broken insock)
- Welt and foxing (broken foxing, foxing curling, insufficient welt)
- Heel (loose heel, slanted heel, uneven top piece)
- Outsole (blister, mould spew, moulding defect, deformed outsole)
- Other components (defective lace/zipper, loose ornaments, rusty accessory)
- Manufacturing defects: assembly faults (misplaced heel, mismatching upper and sole), gluing and sewing defects, process-related faults.
- Defects within pairs and defects in markings.
The document contains no normative references and is drafted by ISO/TC 216 (Footwear) in cooperation with CEN/TC 309.
Practical applications
ISO 20537:2025 is a non-prescriptive vocabulary (it does not set acceptance criteria) used to:
- Standardize defect descriptors in quality control reports and inspection checklists.
- Train inspectors, production and QA personnel to recognize and name faults consistently.
- Facilitate supplier–buyer communication and contractual agreement on defect definitions and acceptable levels.
- Support inspection organizations, retailers, and manufacturers in product evaluation, claims handling and corrective action analysis.
Keywords: ISO 20537:2025, footwear defects, visual inspection, defect identification, footwear vocabulary, quality control.
Who should use this standard
- Footwear manufacturers and suppliers
- Quality assurance and inspection bodies
- Retailers and importers
- Training organizations for footwear production and inspection
- Product designers and specification writers
Related standards
ISO 20537:2025 improves clarity and consistency when reporting and managing footwear appearance and assembly defects across the industry.