Footwear having a suspended elastic membrane

An article of footwear comprising:

• an upper coupled to a sole and having medial and lateral sidewalls, and a perimeter below the sidewalls defining where the upper and the sole meet, wherein the upper and the sole collectively define an interior region;
• and
• an elastic membrane coupled to at least a portion of the medial and lateral sidewalls of the upper and suspended within the interior region, such that the elastic membrane is spaced above the sole and spans between the medial and lateral sidewalls;
• wherein the elastic membrane comprises an intermediate layer sandwiched between two layers of elastic material;
• wherein the intermediate layer causes the elastic membrane to comprise two or more zones, wherein the two or more zones comprise a first zone configured to be stretchable in four directions and a second zone configured to be more stretchable in one or more selected directions than in other directions;
• and
• wherein the intermediate layer is covered by the two layers of elastic material.