Footwear upper having a unitary knit structure and method of manufacturing

A footwear upper comprising:

• a unitary knit structure having:
• a knit outer face layer;
• a knit inner face layer;
• and
• a knit intermediate layer;
• wherein the knit outer face layer, knit inner face layer, and knit intermediate layer are integrally knit with one another to define a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the footwear upper;
• wherein the knit outer face layer comprises a mesh pattern including first knitted-in holes of a first size;
• wherein the knit inner face layer comprises a mesh pattern including second knitted-in holes of a second size larger than the first size and overlapping with the first knitted-in holes;
• wherein the knit intermediate layer is disposed between the knit outer face layer and the knit inner face layer at a plurality of first zones of the unitary knit structure and absent from or present in a lesser amount or lesser density in a plurality of second zones of the unitary knit structure, the first zones alternating with the second zones in a longitudinal direction of the footwear upper, and the unitary knit structure having a greater modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction in the first zones than in the second zones, and having greater breathability in the second zones than in the first zones;
• wherein an average fore-aft width of the first zones in the heel region is greater than an average fore-aft width of the first zones in the forefoot region;
• and
• wherein an average fore-aft width of the second zones in the forefoot region is greater than an average fore-aft width of the second zones in the heel region.