What inspired you to become a Bootmaker?
As a young person I was attracted to art; drawing, sculpture, and painting. I spent most of my young years when not in school with my Godfather Paul Venne in the shoe department at my Grandfathers store. What a mystery Footwear was, like sculpture only in a practical sense, to fit people’s feet, to make them walk with comfort and style.
I watched as my generation did Westerns (movies and TV) and identified with the rugged stand alone nature of the heroic figures portrayed, always wearing Cowboy boots. Along came Rock and Roll, and all the musicians were wearing boots as well as my older brothers and my Mother, who wore Jodhpurs . Naturally I wanted to wear boots, they represented everything a young person would want to be……strong, going your own way, like all your role models.
My Father ran a Ski shop, and I worked with him from Middle School until I was 20 fitting skis, boots, and poles. This experience with Ski boots only furthered my interest in Footwear and how it was made.
Upon graduation from high school I saw this as a natural path for me, to learn how to make Footwear, hiking boots and Cowboy boots, but the path forward would be difficult as there was not much opportunity to learn, as the common statement you heard was “nobody makes footwear!”
Who were your teachers? What was it like to learn from them?
My first teacher was Martin Lenoci in Rutland Vermont who taught me how to repair boots and shoes, and to learn to use all the different sewing and sanding machines. Martin was a wonderful hard working man and I saw first hand the honor and gratitude he displayed as he helped all his customers.
I knew I didn’t want to be a repairman but my time with Martin gave me a good understanding of how shoes and boots were made, torn down and reassembled.
In 1975 I attended Oklahoma State University Technical Branch where my instructor for the program in Bootmaking was Earl Bain. Earl taught me how Cowboy boots were made, fitted, and the different styles. Not only was I learning about bootmaking but the culture of the West, and being 20, I was enjoying being with my fellow students and being apart of all I encountered.
After Graduation I had several jobs in Utah making boots, but one day I got a phone and an opportunity to work in Texas for the famous Charlie Dunn.
Of all the people I had encountered, my time with Charlie and his skilled staff was the most amazing experience I have had.
Charlie Dunn was a gifted artist and Bootmaker, and because he was quite old I learned firsthand about the making, culture, and history of Cowboy boots. His staff was made up of Mexicans, and from them I learned first hand of their techniques in making, as well as their influence in this Craft. I felt at the time that I was right where I should be, and fortunate to be learning from the best people.
What were some of your early struggles and successes as a young Bootmaker?
The challenges in learning how to make Cowboy boots are great, you have to learn so many skills, and most of all to overcome the many failures in the learning process. So it’s safe to say, everything about this Craft was a struggle,but over time you learn, and start to master the various steps. The most important thing you realize is, that if you truly want to, and you don’t give up, with proper help you can learn and get good at anything, even bootmaking.
In 1986 My wife Carrlyn and I were given the opportunity to buy the shop, Texas Traditions. Charlie Dunn was 88 and ready to retire, and I was ready to have my own shop. The years 1986 to 1989 were difficult, Texas was in a recession and I was new at having a business. We had two wonderful things happen in 1989…….. a chance to make boots for Tommy Lee Jones for the movie Lonesome Dove, and a big article was done on me in Phillip Morris Magazine. Over 2 million copies were printed and our phone rang every minute for a year. Carrlyn was soon overwhelmed with answering all the calls and letters from people wanting our boots. This article and the Lonesome Dove opportunity really helped, and the Shop started doing better…. our backlog jumped from 5 months to 2 1/2 years.
I found I loved the artwork and design part of Cowboy boots, and the fitting of feet was so interesting I became absorbed in learning. This is the marvel of making cowboy boots……… you can focus on any aspect, whether it be historical, artistic, fitting of feet, or just production.
Over time, I become known as a “good fitter” of feet, so people came to me for that aspect. I felt that my working with Charlie Dunn was giving me great success as a continuation of the fine art of Bootmaking. My greatest love, was to see the customer happy with my work, and so I was driven to make the best fitting, best made cowboy boots you could find.
What advice would you give to young Bootmakers just starting out?
I feel that to succeed in Bootmaking, you need three things;
Quality training over a period of time with a practicing Bootmaker, this is your foundation to building your skills and understanding the real life problems you will encounter.
Constantly taking every opportunity to meet other Makers and visit other shops, the insight and exposure to new ideas, techniques will prove to be very helpful.
Passion for what you do, having this will enable you to overcome any roadblocks you encounter. This one thing… passion, is key to your success.
What are your hopes and expectations for the future of the Craft?
I believe that as long as young people want to learn how to make Footwear, this amazing Craft will continue. Innovation coupled with traditional skills will drive and shape the future in ways we can’t imagine…… how exciting can that be!
I hope that in some small way I can be a part of this, through writing and sharing.
Cowboy boots are so stylish, and the culture of the cowboy will continue to fascinate others as it did me.
What were some of your early struggles and successes as a young Bootmaker?
In 1986 My wife Carrlyn and I were given the opportunity to buy the shop, Texas Traditions. Charlie Dunn was 88 and ready to retire, and I was ready to have my own shop. The years 1986 to 1989 were difficult, Texas was in a recession and I was new at having a business. We had two wonderful things happen in 1989…….. a chance to make boots for Tommy Lee Jones for the movie Lonesome Dove, and a big article was done on me in Phillip Morris Magazine. Over 2 million copies were printed and our phone rang every minute for a year. Carrlyn was soon overwhelmed with answering all the calls and letters from people wanting our boots. This article and the Lonesome Dove opportunity really helped, and the Shop started doing better…. our backlog jumped from 5 months to 2 1/2 years.
I found I loved the artwork and design part of Cowboy boots, and the fitting of feet was so interesting I became absorbed in learning. This is the marvel of making cowboy boots……… you can focus on any aspect, whether it be historical, artistic, fitting of feet, or just production.
Over time, I’ve become known as a “good fitter” of feet, so people came to me for that aspect. I felt that my working with Charlie Dunn was giving me great success as a continuation of the fine art of Bootmaking. My greatest love, was to see the customer happy with my work, and so I was driven to make the best fitting, best made cowboy boots you could find.
Texas Traditions Boots by Lee Miller
Austin TX
(512) 443-444
The Cowboy Bootmakers. Memories and photos collected by Dana Perrotti, 2019.
