An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper , the upper comprising a first upper element comprising: a base layer having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface facing an interior of the article of footwear ; and a first structural layer comprising at least one first fiber embroidered onto the exterior surface of the base layer , the at least one first fiber forming a plurality of discrete, separate first elongate structural elements extending over the exterior surface of the base layer to provide discrete localized structural support to the base layer , wherein the first elongate structural elements each comprise: a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse width (w), a stitch density, and a stitch angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (x), wherein a first elongate structural element of the plurality of first elongate structural elements is formed from a plurality of first stitches and second stitches which span across the transverse width (w) in a zig-zag pattern, with the width (w) determined in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal elongate axis of the elongate structural element at a given location, wherein at least a portion of the first elongate structural element has a longitudinal direction extending in a same direction as that of adjacent elongate structural elements for at least a portion of a length thereof; and wherein the longitudinal direction (x) and the transverse width (w) of at least a portion of a first group of the first elongate structural elements vary over a length of the first group of the first elongate structural elements . a base layer having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface facing an interior of the article of footwear ; and a first structural layer comprising at least one first fiber embroidered onto the exterior surface of the base layer , the at least one first fiber forming a plurality of discrete, separate first elongate structural elements extending over the exterior surface of the base layer to provide discrete localized structural support to the base layer , wherein the first elongate structural elements each comprise: a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse width (w), a stitch density, and a stitch angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (x), a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse width (w), a stitch density, and a stitch angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (x), wherein a first elongate structural element of the plurality of first elongate structural elements is formed from a plurality of first stitches and second stitches which span across the transverse width (w) in a zig-zag pattern, with the width (w) determined in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal elongate axis of the elongate structural element at a given location, wherein at least a portion of the first elongate structural element has a longitudinal direction extending in a same direction as that of adjacent elongate structural elements for at least a portion of a length thereof; and wherein the longitudinal direction (x) and the transverse width (w) of at least a portion of a first group of the first elongate structural elements vary over a length of the first group of the first elongate structural elements . <EOS>