Masterpiece: Exploring Art in Fashion
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion that delves into the multifaceted world of art and its profound impact on fashion.
What's On 2024
Art Wear
New exhibition opens October 3rd.
Innocence Canada Panel Talk
Join us for an honest, and impactful look at wrongful convictions in Canada on October 20.
2024 Founder’s Lecture
Join us for this year's Founder's Lecture with one of the world’s leading experts on diversity in design Dr. D'Wayne Edwards!
Exhibit A
Sleuth out the complex role of footwear in crime, policing, and the judiciary.
Dressed To Impress
Take a step back to the 1980s and experience the nostalgia and excess of the times. Now on view.
All About Shoes
Take a walk through the the fascinating history of footwear.
Media Room
Find our latest press releases and more information on media images and interview requests.
Follow Us @batashoemuseum
Inspired by our upcoming exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists, join us on Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 pm for an enlightening panel discussion that delves into the multifaceted world of art and its profound impact on fashion with @elizabethsemmelhack, @ashleymckenziebarnes, @abbyalbino and Julian Cox from the @agotoronto. RSVP by visiting our website.
Join us on October 5+6 to celebration the opening of Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists! 👟 Admission is FREE all weekend and everyone is invited! Enjoy a full schedule of exhibition tours and family-friendly hands-on activities ~ take part in a mini “Be a Shoe Designer” craft workshop, leave your mark at our community mural, watch graffiti artist @chrispperez paint live and more.
Get a behind the scenes of our curatorial team unboxing a very exciting loan from @mpsheritage! 🔍 For the first time ever, the shoe worn by the notorious thief “Flannelfoot” is on view in Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear. You’ll notice the different types of items in his tool kit that helped him stay undetected by police for years before he was caught 👀
In 1972, Puma signed NBA superstar and fashion icon Walt Frasier. He wanted to wear colourful sneakers, so they rebranded their first lifestyle shoe, the Crack, and made it available in a wide range of colours. The Suede quickly became a fashion staple, with many young men owning multiple pairs. These 50th-anniversary Suedes were a collab with DJ, author, filmmaker, and member of the famous breaking and hip-hop group, the Rock Steady Crew, Bobbito Garcia.
German, 2018
At the end of the 20th century, the name Manolo Blahnik evoked images of luxury, privilege, and femininity. His creations were worn by international celebrities and were objects of desire for many women. When his shoes became plot points in the hit TV show Sex and the City and its movies, he became a household name. Today, Manolo Blahnik’s shoes remain highly sought after, especially wedding shoes. His blue Hangisi shoes are a particular favourite for Western brides, who often include the pair as the traditional “something blue.”
English, 2022
Join us for our annual Founder`s Lecture this year on Tuesday, November 5 as we welcome designer, educator, and trailblazer Dr. D’Wayne Edwards as our special guest speaker. Our Director and Senior Curator @elizabethsemmelhack and Edwards will explore the convergence of culture, dress, and society through the lens of sneakers. Purchase your tickets on our website.
Join the Bata Shoe Museum and Innocence Canada (@innocencecanada) for an honest, and impactful look at wrongful convictions in Canada on Sunday, October 20 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This panel talk will look at wrongful convictions through the experiences of those who have lived through it, and those who have made a significant impact through their efforts to help clear the names of the victims of wrongful incarceration. RSVP by visiting our website.
The soft felt soles of these Parisian cat-burglar’s, or cambrioleur’s, overshoes were designed to slip over a thief’s street shoes in order to muffle their steps, making them
as silent as a cat. Once the break and enter was completed, the cat-burglar could slip the overshoes off and appear in pedestrian attire with their footsteps once again adding to the noise of the street.
Cat-burglar overshoes, French, 1900–1920
Collection of the Paris Police Museum, on view in "Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear"
