If you stand on the opposite side of the road you can see that Moriyama's futuristic five-story structure resembles a lidded shoebox and looks more like a large sculpture than a building. If you're interested in shoes and fashion history then this is the place to visit. The museum is reputed to house one of the largest collections of shoes and shoe-related objects spanning some 4,500 years of history, including the personal collection of the Bata family, numbering some 10,000 items. Several interactive displays explore the history of shoe and boot making, including a comprehensive feature on the role of shoes in weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies, from virtually every culture in the world. You can also see Chinese silk shoes for binding feet, moon boots, 14th century medieval footwear retrieved from Britain and Holland, as well as an in depth examination of 19th century women's shoes.
Shoes belonging to the rich and famous enjoy a very special pride of place.
On display are Queen Victoria's satin shoes with matching gloves and silk stockings, John Lennon's Beatle boot, Elvis Presley's blue and white patent leather loafers, to name but a few. Native American footwear is particularly well represented with examples gathered from Lapland, the Northwest Territories, Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and Labrador. Once you have fully explored the museum take some time out to explore nearby Chinatown. Chinatown is one of many districts of Toronto that make it such a vibrant city. This fascinating area, where the street signs are printed in a Chinese dialect, stretches westwards along Dundas Street from Bay Street to Spadina Avenue, as well as north and south along Spadina Avenue.