Methods of bladder molding at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear

A method of manufacturing at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

• disposing an inflatable bladder around a last;
• disposing a skin over the inflatable bladder;
• disposing a single piece mold insert over the skin, the single piece mold insert comprising a polymeric material and a thickness in a range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm;
• placing the last, the inflatable bladder, the skin, and the mold insert within a cavity of a mold, the cavity of the mold having an interior shape corresponding to the shape of an upper for an article of footwear;
• heating the mold to a predetermined temperature;
• and
• inflating the inflatable bladder such that the skin is pressed against the mold insert within the mold cavity, thereby causing the skin to take on the shape of at least a portion of an upper.

A method of manufacturing at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

• disposing an inflatable bladder around a last;
• disposing an upper material over the inflatable bladder, the upper material comprising a low melting point thermoplastic polymer having a melting point of 200° C. or less;
• disposing a mold insert over the upper material, the mold insert comprising a mold-cavity-facing surface, an upper-facing surface opposite the mold-cavity-facing surface, and a hollow shape defined by the upper-facing surface;
• placing the last, the inflatable bladder, the upper material, and the mold insert within a cavity of a mold, the cavity of the mold having an interior shape corresponding to the shape of an upper for an article of footwear;
• heating the mold to a predetermined temperature;
• and
• inflating the inflatable bladder such that the upper material is pressed against the mold insert within the mold cavity, thereby causing the upper material to take on the shape of at least a portion of an upper.