Bata Shoe Museum

These skates were worn by Sonja Henie, one of the skating world’s first celebrities. She drew huge audiences with her poetic skating style in the early 20th century.

Henie holds the most Olympic and World Championship titles of any female figure skater. She was also one of the first female skaters to wear a skirt cut above the knee. Henie also changed her boot colour to a striking white, which later became the norm for female skaters.

These custom made skates with silver leather uppers are from her professional career, after 1936, when she performed and produced ice shows. Her lavish Hollywood Ice R***e packed Rockefeller Centre in New York City.

Learn more about the history of Canadian figure skating by checking out our online exhibition "Boots & Blades" ~ https://bootsandblades.ca/

Developed with the support of the Digital Museums Canada

Round up your besties and sweethearts because we're stepping back in time for the raddest 1980s-themed Prom Party for Valentine's Day. Grab your epic prom outfit (80s inspired of course), tease that hair, layer on the blush and of course, get your dancing shoes on for a totally tubular night out! The DJ is going to be spinning the hottest 80s songs all party long, so avoid disappointment by getting your tickets now before they sell out (no duh!). The night will include retro photo booths and access to all current exhibitions including Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s. https://batashoemuseum.ca/event/totally-80s-prom/

Come on down to Toronto's favourite shoebox during the winter break! Try on some funky footwear, make an ice skating craft, play 80s Shoebox Bingo, and get to handle shoes from across time, and from around the world in our Hands On History program.

Included with general admission.

Happy New Year! ✨ A reminder that the Museum is closed today (January 1, 2024).

Footwear like this was very popular in the 1960s. The glitter of white and pink rhinestones interspersed with circles of matte pink and cream velvet creates a brilliant effect on these spectacular evening shoes.

Designed by Delman, 1960-63.

Design duo Susan Bennis and Warren Edwards founded their highly successful brand in New York City in the 1970s. They mixed different prints, textures, and embellishments to create footwear that was fun, extravagant and beloved by celebrities. This outrageous pair features a comic book like font reminiscent of Pop Art, which had a revival in the early 1980s.

American, c. 1984-85

See these shoes on display in our "Dressed to Impress" exhibition ~ on view until March 16, 2025. Sponsored by: boom 97.3 The Toronto Star Designlines Magazine The Kit Azure Magazine

The colour pink was a popular colour in the late 1820s and 1830s, as this silk shoe attests. Every detail of this shoe, from its straight shape, fashionable colour, luxurious silk, delicate ribbons and famous maker would have made it the height of fashion in the 1830s.

Made by Parisian shoemaker Melnotte and sold in England, c. 1830s.

Learn more about the rise of the ballet shoe by exploring our online exhibition "On Pointe" ~ https://brnw.ch/21wFGEP

Get creative and express your personal style with artist Jasmin Pannu as she guides you to paint your own custom shoe design in this exclusive workshop on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. 👟🎨 Visit our website to learn more and to purchase your tickets ~ https://batashoemuseum.ca/event/shoe-customization-101/

Note: Art materials including paint and brushes are included. Participants must provide their own new or used shoes to customize, clean white sneakers are recommended for best results. This adult workshop is designed for all skill levels.

Don't forget the Museum is OPEN today (December 26) from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Discover 4,500 years footwear history, step back into the 80s, explore how society has become obsessed with shoes, and how nature has provided meaning and material for shoemaking.

This pair of men’s slippers was most likely made as gift. Making ornately decorated slippers such as these which feature both needlepoint and beadwork, was a popular pastime for many women in Europe and North America in the middle of the 19th century.

English,1860s

Visiting the Bata Shoe Museum over the holidays? Don't forget to check our holiday hours when planning your trip.

December 24: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
December 25: CLOSED
December 26: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
December 31: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
January 1: CLOSED

Jelly shoes, made of PVC plastic, were a popular fad in this decade. They appeared in high fashion magazines such as Vogue, and designers such as Jean Paul Gautier and Thierry Mugler released their own versions. Less expensive, mass-produced styles could be purchased as cheaply as one to two dollars per pair. This pair of pink jelly shoes with cut-outs was a cheaper alternative for those who wanted the jelly look.

Step back into the 80s by visiting our exhibition "Dressed to Impress" 👠 Sponsored by: boom 97.3 The Toronto Star Designlines Magazine The Kit Azure Magazine

Last month we attended , an annual festival held in Long Beach, CA that brings together influential brands, designers, and artists for an immersive weekend of style, sneakers, art, design, music, and inspiration. We got a first look at some new collabs, met some incredible new friends from the sneaker community, and of course attended the Best Sneakers Of 2023 voted by and including new releases by , , , , , and Bottega Veneta.

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This pair of all-metal club skate blades have a metal screw clamp system instead of the leather strap and buckle attachment that most of the skates up to this date have. The leather strap system was hard to tighten and so the skater’s boots and the attached blades were often not moving in unison - that made it hard to skate. The metal screw clamp system on this pair are likely an innovation that sought to solve the problem. Marked with “Shirley’s” and a patent date of April 12, 1859, these are likely North American around the 1860s.

Learn more about Canadian figure skating by checking out our online exhibition "Boots & Blades". Available in English & French. Developed with the support of the Digital Museums Canada .

Pierre Hardy launched his line of footwear for women in 1999 and men in 2002. Among his many designs are sneakers that play with primary colours and geometric shapes. The design of the Poworamas was inspired by the artwork of Roy Lichtenstein and translates the artist’s graphic appeal into wearable art. Only 500 pairs were made. The manufactured scarcity created by limited releases has been key to fuelling the desire for sneakers.

French, 2011. See these shoes on display in our exhibition "OBSESSED: How Shoes Became Objects of Desire".

This glamourous pair of shoes, featuring carved wooden heels that rival Streamline Moderne sculpture, and uppers in brilliant red silk and gold kid was sold by Delman. They were probably designed by Steven Arpad. In the 1930s, it was common for prominent shoe designers including Roger Vivier, André Perugia, and Arpad to create uncredited designs for a wide range of shoe labels and fashion houses.

Probably Steven Arpad for Delman. American, c. 1939.

Kick off your new year with an 80s inspired aerobics dance class in the museum! Join us on Saturday January 13 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm for a high-energy group class featuring the best music, moves and of course fitness fashion, of the 1980s. Buy your tickets now ~ https://batashoemuseum.ca/event/aerobics-class/

With their sporty stripes and rich ‘Adidas blue’ colour, these glittering high-heeled boots cleverly reflect both the disco and the fitness crazes that were so popular during the late 1970s.

English, designed by Terry de Havilland, 1979-1981

In 2020, Puma collaborated with graduates from Central Saint Martins, the world-renowned fashion and design school in London, to create a capsule collection dedicated to water conservation. The seafaring-inspired clothing used low-water dyeing and digital printing to limit water consumption, and the footwear was made using recycled mesh and undyed, ethically grown cotton canvas. This collaboration demonstrated more than just concern for the future of the environment—it was a proclamation of Puma’s interest in working with the next generation of designers and represents an investment in the future.

Central Saint Martins x Puma Kyron for the Love of Water, 2020

Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto produced some of the most innovative and forward-looking fashions of the 1980s. Yamamoto’s designs often featured deconstructed silhouettes, oversized proportions and neutral colours such as grey, black and white. This sharply contrasted with the structured power suits, vivid colours, and maximalist looks that were popular in Western fashion design for much of this decade. This pair of futuristic shoes features rope-like uppers and simple rubber soles.

Japanese, c. 1980s
Photo by: Margaret Mulligan

See these shoes on display in our exhibition "Dressed to Impress: Footwear & Consumerism in the 1980s". Sponsored by boom 97.3 The Toronto Star Designlines Magazine The Kit Azure Magazine

Join us for Frosty Footwear at Toronto's favourite shoebox this holiday season. From December 27 - January 6*, make a winter craft, or an 80s crafts (in celebration of our newest exhibition, Dressed To Impress). Try your luck in our 80s Shoebox Bingo, and get to handle shoes from across time, and from around the world in our Hands-On History program!
https://batashoemuseum.ca/event/frosty-footwear-winter-break-at-the-bsm/

We are beyond grateful for the incredible support we've received from our amazing sponsors Designlines Magazine boom 97.3 The Toronto Star The Kit Azure Magazine ✨ Their generosity has played a pivotal role in making Dressed to Impress: Footwear & Consumerism in the 1980s a resounding success.
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ABOUT THE EXHIBITION: The decade known for its bold fashions: bright colours, sharp silhouettes, cone heels, and high-status sneakers, this exhibition highlights the joyful nostalgia of the times, while exploring the rise of conservative politics, globalization, and technological innovation that influenced our consumer habits of today. Now on view until March 16, 2025.

During World War II many countries restricted the use of traditional shoemaking materials such as leather and rubber. Shoemakers throughout Europe and North America turned to cork and grass for fashionable women’s footwear including platforms. Discover how nature has provided meaning and material for shoemaking across both time and place in our exhibition "In Bloom: Flowers and Footwear" ~ on view until October 6, 2024.

North American or French, late 1930s to mid 1940s.

Photo: Margaret Mulligan

This evening sandal incorporates many aspects of late 1930s glamour. The exuberant shell-like ornament that rises up on the sides of the foot was perhaps designed to make the wearer feel like Venus emerging from the sea. In 1939, Bally was awarded an exhibition prize for this shoe.

Bally. Swiss, 1939.

Explore our online exhibition "WANT: Desire, Design and Depression Era Footwear" on our website now ~ https://batashoemuseum.ca/want

On November 24, 1989 released the Pump, which featured a lightweight internal inflation mechanism that allowed the wearer to customize the fit of the sneaker. Throughout the 1980s, Reebok battled with Nike and LA Gear to be the top producer of athletic footwear. The release of the Pump meant that at the close of the decade, Reebok reigned supreme.

American, 1989. Collection of Reebok Archives.

On view in our exhibition "Dressed to Impress: Footwear & Consumerism in the 1980s". Sponsored by: boom 97.3 The Toronto Star Designlines Magazine Azure Magazine The Kit

Stopping by the Santa Claus Parade this weekend? 🎅🎁 Don't forget we offer FREE admission on Sundays! Try on our funky footwear and enjoy shoe-themed crafts and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

What made the Pattern 99 blade revolutionary? ⛸️ The aggressive toe-pick design gave skaters a strong grip on the ice when taking off during jumps. Pattern 99 soon became the blade of choice for Canadian and international champion free skaters.

Pictured: Petra Burka’s skates fitted with “Pattern 99” blades manufactured by John Wilson, c. 1966-1969

Explore the artistry and athleticism of figure skating from its early beginnings to today by checking out our online exhibition "Boots & Blades: The Story of Canadian Figure Skating".

In addition to creating shoes for new activities, many late 19th century manufacturers began to offer specialty items to make footwear comfortable. Ceramic boot warmers were designed to be slipped into women's boots and filled with hot water to warm them. Carriage boots were worn as overshoes and were designed to keep wearers warm in unheated carriages. Most examples have quilted lining and fur trim but this pair by François Pinet features ostentatious ostrich feathers to trap the heat. See these shoes on display in OBSESSED: How Shoes Became Objects of Desire ~ on view until April 2024.

French, c. 1900-1910

Photo: Darren Rigo

Join us for a screening of the iconic 80s holiday movie Die Hard on December 14 from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm! Explore the galleries after hours before the screening including our new exhibition "Dressed to Impress: Footwear & Consumerism in the 1980s" 👠 Purchase your tickets now ~ https://batashoemuseum.ca/event/80s-movie-night/