Bata Shoe Museum unveils "Rough and Ready," a definitive history of the cowboy boot

The Bata Shoe Museum announced the exhibition publication launch of Rough and Ready: A History of Cowboy Boots. Rough & Ready is a richly illustrated history book that tracks cowboy boots from the early cattle trails to contemporary fashion, revealing the diverse craftsmanship that continues to shape and influence contemporary fashion. The book accompanies the acclaimed exhibition, Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot, which opened at the Bata Shoe Museum in May 2025 in honour of the Museum's 30th anniversary, and runs until September 2026. Written by Bata Shoe Museum Director & Senior Curator, Elizabeth Semmelhack, and published by Rizzoli, Rough and Ready includes engaging narratives, insightful interviews with Lee Miller, Lisa Sorrell and Jamie Nudie, and vibrant images that showcase the evolution of the cowboy boot through five transformative eras: “Real” explores multicultural origins and the authentic cowboys w