NEWS
Global Footwear Conference - The World at Your Feet, University of Northampton March 20th and 21st March 2013
F
ootwear experts gathered at the University of Northampton for the World at Y
our F eet F Northampton celebrated its shoe making heritage by hosting the World at
Your Feet Footwear Conference, which took place at the University of Northampton on 20 and 21 March 2013. The two-day event was organised by Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and the University of Northampton and was aimed at those from different academic disciplines, including fashion and design, history, sociology, anthropology and ethnography, and psychology. A full host of speakers with both academic and industry backgrounds
discussed how some of our favourite shoe styles and shoe subcultures have been developed. The first day focused on the diversity of world footwear from a historic
perspective, including the design and how shoes are worn across the world. The session started with a keynote speech from Professor Giorgio Riello, from the University of Warwick who talked about the role of the shoe as an art object, particularly in the movies and with celebrities. Katie Greenyer, Creative Director, Red or Dead, Pentland Plc, opened the
second day with her keynote speech on the business side of shoe brands, with the rest of the session exploring the role of shoes and shoe wearing, including subcultures in Vivienne Westwood design and feminist flats. Vicki Dean, Head of Fashion at the University of Northampton said: “This
was a fantastic event which attracted a wide array of prestigious speakers and delegates. We had representation from the V&A, The London Museum, World Leather, Society of Shoe fitters, speakers from New York, Pittsburgh and China, as well as respected academics from the UK. It has been an absolute pleasure working with Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and this is an excellent example of just what can be achieved by working in partnership. Together we will put what Northampton has to offer, the world of footwear, on the map!” Councillor David Mackintosh, Leader of Northampton Borough Council
said: “This conference was a unique event which brought shoe experts from across the world together for the first time raising the profile of Northampton on an international level. Footwear is such a significant part of Northampton’s past and today important shoe brands are still based in the town. Working together with the University we have been able to explore the history of shoes and showcase today’s multibillion global footwear industry.” One of the speakers, Sue Blundell, Lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University, Goldsmiths, Birkbeck, University of London, and the British Museum commented: “I think this was the best conference I've ever been to in 40 years of going to conferences!” Sue delivered a paper 'One kiss left lying on the ground' - The motif of monosandalism in ancient Greek mythology and art. A dinner was held at the end of the first day for delegates and speakers in
the world-famous shoe galleries at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, which was The University of Northampton’s School of the Arts offers a BA (Hons)
Fashion (Footwear and Accessories) MA Design and will be offering a FdA in Footwear from 2014. The University’s Institute of Creative Leather Technology is supported by the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers and is a nationally and internationally recognised centre of excellence for its work in leather. Its tannery is the only working tannery in a UK university, further highlighting the University’s leading role in leather and design.
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery has the largest collection of shoes
in the world ranging from Queen Victoria’s wedding shoes to a pair of super elevated ghillies by Vivienne Westwood – the style that caused Naomi Campbell’s catwalk fall in 1994. The collection has been designated as being of national and international importance. Shoes sit uncomfortably between poetry and pornography To an audience of academics, members of the fashion world, leading shoe
academic Professor Giorgio Riello from the University of Warwick claimed that “shoes sit uncomfortably between poetry and pornography” “Shoes are not by chance an example of the divide between mere
garments and fashion items and illustrate the poetry of Manolo Blahnik and the selectiveness of Sergio Rossi”. “There are five times as many people who can afford Christian Loubitin
shoes than who can actually buy them. Everyone can afford a Chanel frock, few can carry off and in some cases survive a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes.” “Women and not men buy shoes and fall in love with the likes of Manolo
Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, and just wake up the next morning like Cinderella’s without the glass slipper and only their husband’s empty wallet. This is the cliché of shoes that they are what women want and men must let them have”.
ootwear Conference
6 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
• APRIL 2013
www.footweartoday.co.uk
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