This Shoe Museum is Miami’s Best-Kept Fashion Secret
Shoes = artifacts; plus, June Ambrose's new gig & more
Hi friends,
Last week, I finally made my long-awaited visit to the Miami Shoe Museum—one of only a handful of dedicated fashion footwear museums in North America (Toronto holds the largest).
I first heard about it a year ago after meeting founder and curator Luis Valenzuela at a Fashionnovation conference. Since then, I’ve been following his mission to give shoes the cultural spotlight they deserve.
The Miami Shoe Museum grew out of his personal archive—an extensive collection he began in 2010. In 2024, Valenzuela elevated this passion project from digital realm to sacred space, inaugurating the MSM Research Center and The Shoe Vault in Downtown Miami.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Tucked inside Downtown Miami’s MSM Research Center, the museum is small but mighty—packed with storytelling, heritage, and design innovation.
What surprised me: Every detail was so intentional. From iconic archival pieces to sustainable, future-forward design, the discovery factor is high. I learned a ton about designers from around the world—and right in my own backyard. The greats are there (Ferragamo, Jordan, Miyake, Margiela, Schiaparelli), but so are lesser-known names (Beth Levine, Mario Brini), the forgotten (Jan Ernst Matzeliger), and standout student creations.
What I loved: The museum doesn’t just celebrate fashion—it honors identity, movement, and memory. Luis’s background as an educator and journalist shines through every placard and pair. Some corners celebrate aesthetics, others invention and physics.
Why it matters: Shoes are history. They’re craft. They’re culture. And they’ve always had something to say.
One of the most powerful aspects of Luis’s work is how deeply he researches each piece—calling families of deceased designers, tracking down rights, fact-checking, traveling globally to honor context. He’s preserving the past while shaping the future, especially through sustainability and innovation.
Case in point: the Miami Vibes: AI Footwear Design Challenge, a global competition launched by the museum that blends heritage and tech. The 2025 edition will honor Celia Cruz’s iconic cantilever shoes by reimagining them through AI. And inside the museum, he has her actual shoe.
Luis is also a pioneer of green fashion and eco-art, with projects like EcoArtFashion Week and EarthDayMiami under his belt. And his collaborative spirit runs deep, from sneaker recycling initiatives with Moe Hachem (the OG behind Sneaker Impact) to recent collabs with brands like IAMBI for F1.
If you go: The museum is self-guided (with downloadable stories via QR code), but guided tours are also available. It’s an evolving space—new exhibits are always brewing.
Luis isn’t just building a museum—he’s building a movement. You’ll leave with a better grasp of the past, and a deeper curiosity for what’s next.
Go if you’re in Miami. Stay tuned if you’re not. This is just the beginning. 👠🖤
What I’m loving
Recently obsessed
A crisp bob, sharp lines and a sick ear cuff. Carrie Coon wasn’t playing at the Gotham Awards.
Sound on, style up: I find myself Shazaming in boutiques, restaurants and lounges A LOT, so I’m loving this roundup.
