This week were taking you to art history class for Sneaker Freak Friday. With every trend, fad, or it item, there’s always some unknown or ignored historical meaning behind its origination. On display at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, currently resides Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture. It’s an exhibition that delves deep into the historical significance behind the sneaker culture dating from the 19th century to today – a first for North America.
Currently the display features over a 120 sneakers from past 150 years, including “Who isChuck Taylor,” an autographed pair of Adidas All Stars by Run DMC, Jimmy Choo Belgravia, the PUMA RS Computer Shoe… basically the first shoe to track your workouts… and more.
“Shoes designers who’ve made their and established their reputation on making high end women shoes and the only shoes that they’re making for men are sneakers. So the Jimmy Choos I love because they’re ornate with a paisley print, but if you look closely the paisley has naked ladies. Which really reaffirms the masculinity of the wearer,” says Elizabeth Semmelhack, curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.
Designed by famed industrial designer Karim Rashid, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, it has been open since April 25, 2013 and will reside in Toronto until March 30, 2014. Where it will go next, no one knows, but hopefully it will soon come to a museum near you. If not, a trip to Toronto may need to be added to your schedule before next year.
