A FANTASTIC PLACE: Bata Shoe Museum

I went to the Bata Shoes Museum yesterday, and that is fantastic place to look at variety of shoes. Everything there is about shoes. The objects in the Museum span thousands of years, six continents and many walks of life. Footwear is presented as a key to understanding cultures. I could see the change of couture through those shoes. The basement of the museum shows among of shoes which were made in the very beginning of each country’s culture.
The second floor shows the ballet shoe. Actually, I like ballet shoes very much; therefore, I took many pictures. The evolution of the ballet shoe is the focus of this exhibition which partner the Bata Shoe Museum with Canada’s National Ballet Scholl, Juxtaposing the brute athleticism of discipline with the illusion of effortless grace created through performance. One of Canada’s most famous ballerinas, Karen Kain began studying ballet at Canada’s National Ballet School at the age of eleven and by 1971 was the principal banker for the National Ballet of Canada. Today she is the company’s Artistic Director. I found there is one pair of shoes is forming her. There is much native North American footwear in the second. For centuries, the indigenous women of North America created footwear for their families. The extraordinary beauty and fascinating diversity of these functional works of art are a testament to the individual artistry of their makers. There artifacts testament reflect larger issues of regional and cultural identity as well as pride in their distinctive patterns of construction and symbolism.
There many countries’ shoes are showing in third floor, including Europe, India, China, Japan, Egypt and so on. In European culture, unlike in most other culture of the world, dress silhouettes and shoes changed frequently, documenting shifting tastes and changing lifestyles. Fashion in many ways was the privilege of the wealthy classes and was inspired by royal courts. Many of the Bata Shoes Museum’s European treasures include exquisite examples brought a great variety of design inspirations as well as actual materials to the courts of Europe. Such as Chinese embroidered skills and ottoman kilims, which also were used for footwear. From the 19th century on, European dress had a tremendous impact on global clothing and footwear traditions. There so many patty shoes in that museum. We spent almost 3hours. In addition, there are some programs which explain how people make shoes and the history of shoes on TV in each floor. It is a very good choice to know more about this world.
I think that is not only about shoes but also explain culture. When you visit there, you can feel that the world at your feet.

• ADDRESS: 327 Bloor Street West Toronto ON M5S 1W7
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  TELEPHONE: 416-979-7799
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  DIRECTIONS- By subway

From the St. George subway station, walk to the southwest corner of Bloor Street West and St. George