Discover the treasures of North America’s charming and surprising shoe museum in Toronto, Canada. A remarkable collection of footwear from around the globe with over 4,500 years of history. Explore four impressive exhibitions that will inspire and delight visitors of all ages in architect Raymond Moriyama’s iconic, award-winning building.
Dressed to Impress: Footwear & Consumerism in the 1980s
November 1, 2023 to March 16, 2025
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.
On view until October 6, 2024
As one of fashion’s most timeless inspirations, representations of flowers have appeared in textiles and footwear throughout history. From spring cherry blossoms as a symbol of new beginnings to the fall-blooming chrysanthemum as an emblem of joy and happiness, each floral motif holds a unique meaning and story. A celebration of how nature has provided meaning and material for shoemaking across both time and place, In Bloom: Flowers and Footwear features some of the most beautiful shoes from the museum’s collection.
OBSESSED: How Shoes Became Objects of Desire
On view until April 2024
This exhibition will guide you through the story of how we have become a society obsessed with shoes. This exhibition features highly coveted shoes in our collection that represents how industrialization drove shoe consumption transforming footwear designers into celebrities and shoes into high value collectibles.
All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages
Permanent
As the museum’s flagship exhibition, this exhibit takes visitors on a voyage through 4500 years of footwear history, focusing on the important role that footwear plays in our lives and imaginations. Up a flight of stairs is the exhibition Behind the Scenes: A Glimpse into Artefact Storage. With only four percent of the collection typically on view at any given time, this area gives visitors a glimpse into the museum’s two storage vaults and offers rotations of artefacts from the collection.
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 12pm to 5pm
The Bata Shoe Museum offers FREE admission every Sunday!
