As a kid Dad would, in my mind, “be good” when he had a new roll of natural hide. I felt like that was the way to be. Good. So many things to make, so many things then to be used efficiently. Start your own fire. Continue reading
The only thing that inspired me to answer an ad looking for “someone to stitch boot tops” was the fact that I needed a job, and I’d been sewing clothing since age 12 so it sounded like something I could do. But… then I realized that people could make footwear! And I could be one of those people! And I was hooked. Continue reading
Passion and vengeance
I’m self taught and it was difficult since there was nobody to ask anything to.
Finding supply sources in L.A was tough, it’s not TX.
EJECT EJECT
I hope it stays alive but it’s gonna become nearly extinct, like most old crafts, how many swordsmiths or armorist are still around?
Hollywood Riff Raff • Pascal Davayat
Newbury Park CA
(818) 200-9106
The Cowboy Bootmakers. Memories and photos collected by Dana Perrotti, 2019.
Necessity. My father was a lifelong rancher and after one summer working on his ranch at age 10, it was necessary for me to find something else to do in the summers and after school! Coming from a tiny town of less than 300, there were not a lot of employment opportunities for an 11 year old. So I jumped on the first opportunity that was available. He said “Can you sew welt?” I replied “What is welt?” Continue reading
It’s always been clear to me that if I ever had passion for a career what I needed was the right mix of creativity and structure, with a reasonable amount of madness. As the only Brooklyn boy that wore boots to school I was reassured that the teenager is quite possibly the most ruthless animal god put on the planet. It was there in James Madison High School’s crowded hallways, following the roar of mocking laughter, that I decided to never wear boots again. It happened just after the football team captain’s loud and piercing crowd-pleaser “Yo Edie! Where’d you park your horse?!?!” Continue reading
