A portion of an upper, comprising: a backing; a contouring element (31, 32, 33, 34), wherein the contouring element is a material selected from synthetic leather, a foam or a natural leather; and a mesh outer panel, wherein the contouring element has a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses (TO, TB) of the outer panel and of the backing, the backing and the mesh outer panel each has an interior side configured to face toward an interior space of an article of footwear, and an exterior side configured to face away from the interior space, when the upper is incorporated into the article of footwear, the contouring element is located between the exterior side of the backing and the interior side of the mesh outer panel, the backing, the contouring element and the mesh outer panel form a bonded composite panel in which the mesh outer panel conforms to the contouring element and the backing so as to form a raised contour, wherein a bond between the mesh outer panel and the backing extends to inner edges at which the contouring element meets the backing, and wherein regions of the mesh outer panel overlaying the contouring element are under tension and deform the contouring element so as to round outer edges of the contouring element. a backing; a contouring element (31, 32, 33, 34), wherein the contouring element is a material selected from synthetic leather, a foam or a natural leather; and a mesh outer panel, wherein the contouring element has a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses (TO, TB) of the outer panel and of the backing, the backing and the mesh outer panel each has an interior side configured to face toward an interior space of an article of footwear, and an exterior side configured to face away from the interior space, when the upper is incorporated into the article of footwear, the contouring element is located between the exterior side of the backing and the interior side of the mesh outer panel, the backing, the contouring element and the mesh outer panel form a bonded composite panel in which the mesh outer panel conforms to the contouring element and the backing so as to form a raised contour, wherein a bond between the mesh outer panel and the backing extends to inner edges at which the contouring element meets the backing, and wherein regions of the mesh outer panel overlaying the contouring element are under tension and deform the contouring element so as to round outer edges of the contouring element. the contouring element has a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses (TO, TB) of the outer panel and of the backing, the backing and the mesh outer panel each has an interior side configured to face toward an interior space of an article of footwear, and an exterior side configured to face away from the interior space, when the upper is incorporated into the article of footwear, the contouring element is located between the exterior side of the backing and the interior side of the mesh outer panel, the backing, the contouring element and the mesh outer panel form a bonded composite panel in which the mesh outer panel conforms to the contouring element and the backing so as to form a raised contour, wherein a bond between the mesh outer panel and the backing extends to inner edges at which the contouring element meets the backing, and wherein regions of the mesh outer panel overlaying the contouring element are under tension and deform the contouring element so as to round outer edges of the contouring element.