If the Shoe Fits: Project film
This short film, produced by Sheffield Vision, introduces our research project at the University of Sheffield which is finding out how shoes contribute to people's identities and the ways in which footwear enables them to move between different parts of their lives.
An Industry Perspective of the development of the Shoe
The footwear industry dates back to cobbler stores in medieval times. Since then, many changes have occurred in the footwear market…
Festival of the Mind - Researchers' Night
A selection of shoe stories collected at the ‘If the Shoe Fits’ exhibition, part of the Festival of the Mind, at the University of Sheffield.
Putting shoes on show
A review of the exhibition process. Exhibiting research for the ESRC-funded If the Shoe Fits research project at ICOSS, University of Sheffield, 5th December 2011 – 3rd January 2012
'Boots are made for talking, about who we are'
Review of Virginia Postrel’s article for Bloomberg View.
Shoe-Watching on Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street: perhaps London's most famous shoe-shopping location. Filmed during a lunch hour this seven and a half minute video observes the shoes of those passing through the popular location.
'Master of pain' - A Podiatrist's Response
Head of Podiatry Service at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Professor Wesley Vernon OBE, offers a clinical perspective on Claudia Croft’s recent Sunday Times interview with footwear designer Christian Louboutin.
If the Shoe Fits, If the Dog Fetches
Professor Kath Woodward reflects on the powerful capacity of shoes to connect us with others, past and present, human and non-human.
Graduation shoes
Professor Jenny Hockey offers an anthropological perspective on graduation shoes and rites of passage.
Northampton Shoe Museum Sneaker Speaker Symposium
Little Black Dress Exhibition Review
'Walking in My Shoes'
Jenny Hockey reviews the Cuming Museum’s exhibition of historic and contemporary shoes to consider identity and the way what is worn on the feet speaks to the mobilities evoked, both literally and metaphorically.
Search the archive for more articles from the Footwear Research Network:
More From the Footwear Research Network…
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![A pair of tan leather Jacoform shoes owned by Footwear Research Network contributor Professor Andrew Groves photographed against a black background.]()
Contributors
Meet our internationally acclaimed network of contributors.
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![A photograph of a shoe gallery at Shoes of No Shoes (SONS), Kruisem, Belgium.]()
Museums & Archives
A list of publicly available museums and archives in alphabetical order by country.
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Reading List
A list of recommended past and present academic texts on footwear.
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![Photograph of shoes on display in 1980s style mock shop front at the Bata Shoe Museum's 'Dressed to Impress' exhibition in Toronto © 2023 Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada (Photo: Margaret Mulligan)]()
Events
Keep up to date with footwear events and exhibitions worldwide.
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![Collage or different shoes. Artwork by Maximillian Malone for the Footwear Research Network, 2021.]()
Get Involved
Find out how to become a network member, contributor or partner.
If the shoe fits:
FootweaR, Identity & Transition
The Footwear Research Network is an outcome of the ESRC-funded research project If the Shoe Fits: Footwear Identity and Transition at the University of Sheffield (2010-2013). Learn more about the project and research outputs here.
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The Footwear Research Network is an outcome of the ESRC-funded research project If the Shoe Fits: Footwear Identity and Transition at the University of Sheffield (2010-2013).
Learn more here
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Watch the ‘If the Shoe Fits’ documentary to learn more about the research project and the relationship between wearers and their shoes. Filmed and produced by Sheffield Vision.
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Learn more about the ‘If the Shoe Fits’ research team and board of advisors.
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Following the success of the original ITSF project, further funding was secured in 2015 for a follow-on project, ‘If the Shoe Fits: Enabling Patient-Centred Podiatry’.
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A number of papers and publications were produced directly from the ‘If the Shoe Fits’ research and in association with the project. Access the full list here.