Special Collections Blog: Special Collections Blog

DMU Shoe-perpower: Footwear Design at 90!

Celebrating 90 years since the first iteration of the footwear design course at DMU, the Special Collections team are working closely with Programme Leader, Nanette Westberg-Brown to showcase the fascinating and inspiring history of one of DMU’s most prestigious courses. With some gorgeous photographs, an archives appeal and information about how you can get involved, read on!

PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD: ORIGINS

DMU footwear design evolved out of the Boot and Shoe Manufacture courses that began at DMU’s predecessor, Leicester College of Technology in 1897.

Image of the Boot and Shoe department (c 1910?)

Specialising in vocational training, the Boot and Shoe course was specifically created to form a partnership with Leicester’s booming shoe trade: workers would share their expertise and skills by teaching part-time, students would train and go into local industry, and machinery and materials were often supplied by local manufacturers to assist with providing students with experience of the latest technologies and innovations to enhance their learning. This collaborative relationship has since developed and flourished and continues today.

Selection of brochures produced by Leicester shoe manufacturers, 1934-35.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE ARCHIVES

However, it was not until 1933-34 that design was introduced as a separate but vital part of the Boot & Shoe course. Fearing they were falling behind with European and American approaches to footwear design and manufacturing, research trips led to the introduction of a more formal design element and the appointment of specialists in footwear design.

Footwear class c 1935.

By 1938, the design component had secured a foothold and had elevated the standing of the course. Prospectuses at the time reflect this evolution and promote the course as allowing and preparing those wishing to ‘qualify for the many executive positions that the industry offers (pg. 26). At this time, courses were approved by the Boot and Shoe Advisory Committee and the qualification was a City and Guilds of London Institute.

Images from the 1938 prospectus which lists components of the course to include: ‘Pattern Cutting, Designing, Clicking, Closing, Lasting, Bottom Sock Cutting, Finishing, Shoe Room Organisation and Management’ (pg. 26).

Since then, Footwear Design has become a separate degree course in its own right with DMU issuing its own qualifications from 1969. In the archive we have several collections that document the history of the course and there are some wonderful prospectuses, photographs and press cuttings showcasing the research of staff and students over the decades.

School of Boot and Shoe Manufacture prospectus cover, 1956-7.

Images of footwear design at DMU, 1970s and a press cutting of students involved in a research trip to Florence, c 1978.

‘Award-winning team’, third year students, 1980.

Press cutting, 1983.

Press cutting, 1996.

However, there are gaps in our collections, especially in terms of photographs and examples of staff and student work for all periods but especially 1980-present, and this is where you could help.

STEPPING UP: GETTING INVOLVED
As part of the anniversary events, DMU Special Collections will be creating an online exhibition timeline so that we can all explore and enjoy a more detailed history of the course, celebrating the achievements of staff and students past and present. Alongside this, we are also launching an archives appeal aimed at previous staff and alumni. Here we would like to invite loans and/or donations of any materials relating to the history of Footwear Design at DMU. Do you have some old prototypes kicking about? Or any sketchbooks or photographs you think should get a toe-in?

What we are interested in

Any and all material relating to the history of footwear design at DMU, including records and objects such as:

• prototypes
• drawings/designs
• sketchbooks
• leaflets/brochures
• press cuttings
• photographs

How you can loan or donate

You can donate materials (either physical originals or digital copies) directly to Special Collections any time using the email below. Please do get in touch if you have any questions. We can digitise any material you don’t want to part with.

If you would like to donate/loan material to be included in the anniversary physical exhibition, please do get in touch as soon as possible. Materials received after 17^th May 2024 will not be included. For more information, please contact us: DMU Special Collections archives@dmu.ac.uk or Programme Leader for Footwear Design, Nanette Westberg-Brown nanette.westberg-brown@dmu.ac.uk

How we will use loaned/donated material

Items donated form named collections which are then listed, packaged and shared in classes, exhibitions and with other alumni and readers. Collections are not only preserved to tell the story of DMU and its students in perpetuity, but they are also an essential resource for scholars and students, inspiring new avenues of research and the next generation of designers. Is the next step of your DMU journey to be a part of its archival legacy?

Items loaned will be carefully handled, stored, labelled and displayed in a physical exhibition to be held in June 2024. Items will then be returned to you once the exhibition is closed.

Here, we sincerely welcome you to visit the archive and appeal for your help in preserving the history of Footwear Design at DMU.