Following the success of the exhibition Cristóbal Balenciaga | Shoes from Spain Tribute, held in Milan in 2025, the Spanish Footwear Industries Federation (FICE) and the Museo del Traje present Shoes on Display, a new collaborative project that brings this direct dialogue into the museum’s permanent collection route.
The proposal takes inspiration as its guiding thread: colors, shapes, silhouettes, embroidery, materials, and techniques found in the institution’s historic pieces are transformed into new contemporary footwear creations designed specifically for this project. A total of 35 display cases along the permanent route have been modified to showcase these new creations alongside the historic garments that inspired them, tracing a journey through the history of fashion in Spain from the 18th century to the present day.
The project brings together 40 representative companies from Spain’s key footwear-producing regions, selected through an open call and creative competition launched by FICE. Joining this industrial and promotional challenge are prominent Spanish artisans and artists specializing in lace, embroidery, jewelry, silk flowers, furriery, and sculpture—fostering a high-value creative encounter between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary industry.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will discover dialogues with iconic creations by masters of Spanish fashion—such as Mariano Fortuny, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Paco Rabanne, Pedro Rodríguez, Elio Berhanyer, and Sybilla—as well as interventions highlighting traditional folk dress and popular attire. The itinerary also features an introductory section setting the stage for this convergence of heritage and modernity (Display Case 2), a special capsule dedicated to Balenciaga’s iconic dresses previously shown in Milan (Display Case 43), and a closing space honoring Spanish footwear design (Display Case 53).
Through its support of this initiative within the framework of the Madrid Design Festival, AC/E highlights the artisan excellence, creative capacity, and significant cultural and industrial heritage of the Spanish footwear sector.
Venue: Permanent Exhibition (First Floor), Museo del Traje. Centro de Investigación del Patrimonio Etnológico, Madrid
Dates: October 29, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Organized by: Museo del Traje and the Spanish Footwear Industries Federation (FICE)
In collaboration with: Acción Cultural Española (AC/E)
Curators: Javier Echeverría Sola and Juan Gutiérrez
Framework: Madrid Design Festival