Custom-Made Boots and Where to Find Them Across the South
When you talk about regions in the United States, there’s not really a kind of footwear that comes to mind. Maybe the flip flop in beaches of California or Florida, or trail runners in the mountainous regions of Colorado. But there’s one shoe that sticks out in the American imagination: the cowboy boot and it’s fair to say many Southerners have a sort of love affair with them. For the working rancher, a good pair of cowboy boots is essential. For many of the rest of us, they’re more of a fashion statement that expresses a certain pride in our Western heritage.
There are many different types of cowboy boots. Plain brown boots, snakeskin boots, vegan boots, boots with spurs, dress boots and so much more that you can pick up off the shelf at any outlet. And then, there’s the Ferrari of cowboy boots—custom-made by artisan bootmakers who still make cowboy footwear by hand.
Whether you’re looking for exotic leathers you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world, colorful designs that are tailor-made to stand out from the crowd, or simply want a custom boot fitted to your exact size, these Southern-based bootmakers have you covered. Once you sit down in their fitting chair, they’ll take precise measurements, help you dream up a design, then get to work handcrafting the best boots you’ll ever own. Read below for our recommendations and you’ll be on your way to getting a pair of boots made for you (and you only).
Rocketbuster - El Paso, Texas
Cowboy boots tend to cause more than their share of double-takes, and at El Paso-based Rocketbuster, that’s their specialty. Some of the brand’s creations have included a green alligator style with the image of a $100 bill and boots with the likeness of a Geisha. Rocketbuster boots average around $3,000 with many customers including the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts, Oprah, and Ethan Hawke, seeking styles that are over-the-top. Founded by Marty Snortum, and now run by his designer wife, Nevena Christi, every pair of boots at Rocketbuster is handmade and can be completely customized. But customers don’t have to be a celebrity to indulge in a pair of these tailor made boots—all it takes is some imagination, an open checkbook, and a wait time of six to eight months.
Sorrell Custom Boots - Guthrie, Oklahoma
Since 1995, Lisa Sorrell has been handcrafting custom boots at her small shop in downtown Guthrie, Oklahoma. Her work is distinctive not only for the quality and precision of the inlay and stitching but also for her imaginative designs. In fact, she’s the first woman to win a prestigious bootmaking award and has even created boots for celebrities, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who purchased two pairs after flying Sorrell out to a movie set in to be fitted. Sorrell Custom Boots isn’t in the business of cranking out as many boots as they can per month. Lisa Sorrell is an artist and her canvas is the cowboy boot. She stays booked months in advance, meticulously crafting $10,000+ one-of-a-kind boots for those looking for a functional and bespoke piece of wearable art.
Texas Traditions - Austin, Texas
They start at $3000 dollars and the wait list is so long it might take you a couple of years to get a pair—but when you own a pair of boots made by Lee Miller, it’s worth it. Lee Miller, the owner of Austin-based Texas Traditions, is a master bootmaker, crafting each pair by hand using traditional methods, some of which are from the Roman era. Miller apprenticed under Charlie Dunn, the famed Texas bootmaker who was immortalized in the 1972 song “Charlie Dunn” by Jerry Jeff Walker and was known as the “Michelangelo” of cowboy boots, before taking over his shop in the 80s. Customers have included a number of well-heeled celebrities, including the likes of Lyle Lovett, Sting, Willie Nelson, and Tommy Lee Jones, who wore a pair of Texas Traditions boots in the 1989 movie, Lonesome Dove. The small team at Texas Traditions stops taking orders from new customers after they reach a backlog, so folks who have succeeded in getting an order in should hold on tight to their ticket and call themselves lucky.
Music City Leather - Nashville, Tennessee
Wes Shugart, of Music City Leather in Nashville, Tennessee, crafts handmade, custom cowboy boots made to fit, made to last, and made to the taste of each individual customer. Since he started making cowboy boots in 2012, Shugart has outfitted the feet of people from all walks of life—from working cowboys to country music stars, stylish housewives, CEOs, and those who just love a good pair of boots. Everything from the sole assembly to the stitch work is done by hand at Wes Shugart’s one-man operation. A pair of custom-made Music City Leather boots start at $2000 but can go higher depending on the leather and intricacy of the stitchwork the future wearer desires. When the process towards your one-of-a-kind boot is complete, you’ll have a piece of wearable art—a cowboy boot that roots you to the ground, but flowers up with design and flair.
