Join us for an inspiring evening on Tuesday, April 29 with Joseph Sagaj, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) of the Sturgeon Clan, as he shares his remarkable journey as an Indigenous artist. Growing up in Neskantaga, a remote community of just 300 people located 433 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Joseph’s creative foundation was shaped by moments like making moccasins with his mother. RSVP on our website now. ...

Heavily beaded mules are a longstanding part of Southeast Asian Peranakan wedding attire. This pair features lush pink peonies and butterflies done in detailed beadwork.

Peranakan, probably 1920s ...

Celebrate Earth Day with us on Sunday, April 13 with fun and eco-friendly activities for all ages! 🌏 Discover how footwear impacts the environment in our engaging Footwear and the Environment presentations, exploring sustainable practices and innovative designs shaping the future of shoes 👟 ...

This pair of Black Canvas Mache Runners was hand painted by Mache for the Bata Shoe Museum. He was inspired by the bespoke Rolls Royce Phantom V that John Lennon of the Beatles had hand painted in 1967. Mache’s design is faithful to the traditional Roma art style employed to embellish the car painted onto a bright yellow ground. Lennon’s famous car is now in the collection of the Royal British Columbia Museum.


Blank Canvas Mache Runner Customs, 2024

On view in our exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists. Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @nowtoronto ...

Discover Indigenous history and ecological heritage with us as we partner with The Indigenous Peoples Garden Inc. (formally known as AKI WIIDOOKAAGEWIN (Earth Helpers) for a unique walking tour of the Bloor-Annex neighbourhood on Saturday, April 12 and Saturday, April 26. At the museum, Grandmother Vivian Recollet, in conversation with Justine Woods, Curator of Indigenous Collections, will share a selection of moccasin belongings from the BSM’s collection and speak to the connections between Indigenous footwear and stories of the land. Visit our website for more info. ...

Step behind the yellow police line and uncover the secrets of real-life crime scene investigations with Detective Ed Adach, a veteran of the Toronto Police Service who was in the force for 43 years and an expert in forensic footwear evidence on Wednesday, April 2. Purchase your tickets on our website. ...

Tomorrow`s the last day of our March Break activities! Get creative at our self-guided craft station, join one of our expert guides for a fascinating tour of our galleries, or challenge your footwear knowledge with our Wheel of Shoes Trivia game for a chance to win a shoe-themed prize. ...

Happy International Women`s Day ~ join us on Tuesday, March 11 for an inspiring lecture by BSM Curator Nishi Bassi as she explores the impactful, but often under-recognized contributions of women in shoe design. From Beth Levine’s pioneering work in the mid-20th century to Aurora James’s modern activism-driven designs, women have played a vital role in shaping the footwear industry, discover how these trailblazers have carved their path in a male-dominated field, paving the way for future generations. Purchase your tickets on our website.

Pictured: Olivia by Brothers Vellies, 2020. ...

This elegant evening shoe was made by the luxury Swiss shoe brand Bally in the mid-1930s and incorporates elements of Art Deco design, reflecting the interplay between architecture and fashion popular at the time. Although it has a closed-toe vamp, the fact that it features cutouts would`ve meant that they would have been referred to as sandals. ...