In the early 20th century, the western part of Flanders especially had an international reputation in the shoe trade. Regrettably, most small factories and craftsmen had to give up the fight against competition from Italy and Eastern Europe in the 1950s and 60s. But the various shows and museums celebrating the craftsmanship of shoes are a way to keep their spirit alive.

The Schoeisel Museum (Footwear Museum) in Izegem, West Flanders, was the first museum in the country dedicated entirely to shoes. It is also the museum that pays the most attention to the craft of shoe making, detailing and illustrating the process behind the finished product. And it famously has a broad scope – showcasing examples that date back as far as the 1920s, but paying attention to more recent design, too.

Their latest exhibition zooms in on the 20th century as the period during which women’s shoes evolved most quickly and drastically. Clothing changed from floor-length dresses and skirts to elegant lengths around the ankle, just below the knee and – much later – to way above the knee. As a result, shoes grew more and more important.

Moreover, as women’s roles in society changed, so did their needs: no woman wears the same shoes caring for her children, going to a party and going to work. Different styles were introduced for different occasions, and heel heights went up and down accordingly. (The very high heel above was made by the Eperon d’Or factory for the Brussels International Exposition of 1935).

For this show, called Shoe, shoe,… SHOES!, the museum in Izegem underwent a serious update. A modern take on the history of shoes deserves a modern environment, after all. And thanks to this willingness to draw the link between history and the present – instead of being stuck in the past – the museum always has an interesting selection of recent and current shoe designs on display.

Belgian and Dutch designers prove that even with the disappearing of the shoe industry from their countries, it is still possible to create innovative and beautiful shoes here: just look at the examples by Dries Van Noten, Tim Van Steenbergen, Els Proost, Ellen Verbeek and Nathalie Verlinden, for example.

Until 18 December
Schoeisel Museum
Wijngaardstraat 9
Izegem
www.musea.izegem.be