Abstract: A removable lace-in fastener for an item of footwear comprises fastener means such as a sliding clasp fastener, openable and closeable along a longitudinally extending line and a pair of bendable, longitudinally extending strips of plastics material. Each strip has a plurality of integrally moulded eyelets provided along a first outer longitudinal edge thereof. Each strip is attached along a second longitudinal edge thereof to a free outer edge of the fastener means. The fastener may be attached into a boot or other item of footwear by lacing connecting some of the eyelets with conventional eyelets in the boot.