Footwear Museum Jose María Amat Amer

Welcome to

FOOTWEAR MUSEUM
JOSE MARÍA AMAT AMER

A cultural and pedagogical space in which to discover the influence of the Footwear sector in the Industrial History of the Middle Vinalopó region, as well as contemplate the different Shoe and Machinery Collections of companies that brought about great prestige to the shoemaking sector.

 

The “José María Amat Amer” Footwear Museum is a reality thanks to the hard work of innumerable people to preserve the Arts of the Trade as well as its History and Culture.

 

The Museum situates in Elda, because of his historical tradition in the footwear industry in Spain, with recognition to national and internacional level, and besides was headquarter of the FICIA (International Fair othe the Footwar and Affine Industries).

 

We boast the greatest collection of Shoes, Machinery, Infographics, Library and History related to all aspects of the field of Footwear.

 

Do you wish to accompany us to discover a unique and magic sector?

 

Plan your visit now, meet us in this VIDEO
  

Plenty to offer

GALLERIES AVAILABLE

Visiting our Footwear Museum becomes a walk through the History of Footwear, the Factories and Shoemakers of old, the evolution of its Designs, Technology, and Footwear Fairs in Spain and the World.

 

Discover our theme exhibition galleries.

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Awards

WOMAN IN THE BEST SHOES AWARD

The Woman in the Best Shoes in Spain
The Woman in the Best Shoes in Spain

The Woman in the Best Shoes in Spain is awarded this prize during an annual ceremony held in the Footwear Museum in Elda before celebrities, business people in this sector and the media. At this ceremony she receives the award and the pin with the symbol of the Winged Shoe representing the spirit of the award and which embodies the responsibility given when it comes to making the industry take off, making it rise past any borders. To such end, the woman awarded receives the most valuable jewels: pairs of shoes designed by the collaborating companies with the features of the woman awarded in mind. These are handed over during a ceremony on the same day.

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Sponsors

COLLABORATORS

The Collaborating Entities are enabling the Museum's feasibility by doing their bit and directly collaborating with us in the cultural activities organised.

I wish to become a collaborating entity.

Living History

Elda: Footwear City.

In 1967, the Footwear Industry of Spain achieved the greatest surplus of the trade balance in the country. Starring this achievement was the work developed by the FICIA (International Footwear and Related Industries Fair), which had been born in the city of Elda as the National Fair just six years earlier, in 1960. Such was the strength with which it was introduced in the Spanish economy, that in that short time it was able to overcome the citrus fruits, for instance, as the main export in those years.

Hundreds of years of footwear history hide in our galleries, awaiting your visit.

Are you studying? Do you need information? In order to help whoever wishes to learn part of the History of this Museum and the Shoemaking History of Elda, the Footwear Museum has made a compilation of pdf files which will be available for download very soon. We encourage you to return in the coming days so as to find out all the information by downloading our pdf files.

 
Next Friday we will announce the winners of the Golden Pencil contest and you can help choose them.
 
From 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the public will be able to vote for their favorite designs or models.
 
The public voting accounts for 25% of the total result, so get excited and vote!
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THURSDAY 29 10:00-14:00

FRIDAY 30 10:00-14:00
 
SATURDAY 31, SUNDAY 1, MONDAY 2 - CLOSED
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We invite you on May 22nd at 6:00 PM to the Round Table "Author's Footsteps," as part of the @fashioncinema section of the Alicante Film Festival (Official Page) that will take place at MACA, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante.

An interesting round table where the footwear and film industries will be discussed.Participants:

Vicente Pastor. President of the FICIA FoundationCarmen García. Business

Development Director of Chie MiharaPepe Amat. Creative Director of Magrit.

Moderated by: Footwear Museum.

You can register at:

https://www.eventbrite.es/e/entradas-pisadas-de-autor-creatividad-industria-y-cine-en-el-mundo-del-calzado-1333289668289?aff=oddtdtcreat

This exhibition will be on display from May 20th to June 1st at @macaalicante.We look forward to seeing you!

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The Museodelcalzado collaborates once again with the @fashioncinemaalicante section of the @festivalcinealicante and co-organizes the Traces of Cinema Exhibition. A tribute to designer Paco Delgado, winner of the Goya Award for costume design and nominated for an Oscar for Les Misérables.

This exhibition will be on display from May 20th to June 1st at the @macaalicante.

We look forward to seeing you!

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Blog

LATEST NEWS

Stay informed at all times regarding the latest news in the world of the Shoemaking sector, as well as all the news related to Current Events chosen by us.

ESPARDEÑA2025
05 2025

Since ancient times, civilizations have used plant fibers to create lightweight, resistant, and adaptable footwear.

The typical espadrilles of the Mediterranean are the perfect reflection of that ancestral wisdom. This type of traditional footwear is made from natural fibers such as esparto grass, pita or hemp, materials that have been present in the history of footwear from Antiquity to the present day. Their hand-braiding, flexible sole and lightness made them the ideal footwear for work in the fields, dance or everyday life in rural areas. In the image, we can see three variants belonging to the collection of the Footwear Museum:

— Espadrille and crochet espadrille: a mixture of rusticity and artisanal detail.

— Typical Ibizan espadrille of pita and esparto grass: light, open and summery.

— Valencian esparto grass esparto grass: closed and resistant braiding. 

 

These pieces not only speak of functionality, but also of culture, tradition and connection with the natural environment. The use of vegetable fibres represents a way of understanding fashion and footwear from a perspective of respect for the environment and local identity.

14 2025