Footwear and footwear structures are provided as well as methods for
forming composite components for footwear or footwear structures. In
forming the structures, two material layers are overlaid such that the
two material layers are in contact with one another. The two material
layers are heated to a forming temperature and are then vacuum-formed
together to form a composite material layer in a three-dimensional form
of the footwear structure. A provided footwear structure includes an
upper and a sole assembly attached to the upper. The sole assembly
includes a first material layer made of a thermoplastic, and a second
material layer attached to the first material layer. The first material
layer includes a recessed area including a flat support portion, and is
transparent or translucent. The second material layer includes a portion
that is positioned on a surface of the recessed area, and a color of the
second material layer indicates a location and/or a function of the
second material layer.