Mr. Merrill Matthews recounts his Texas-sized dilemma about buying cowboy boots made in China. (All Things Considered, 3/18/2005)

Can you believe I just bought these? Man, I hope they fit.

I’ll be taking a trip to Santa Fe to attend the Southwest Design Conference (and to see some local sights) this June 22-27, 2005.

J.B. Hill Boot Company along with bootmakers, Lisa Sorrell and William Shanor will be exhibiting their work …and no doubt taking orders. I’m looking forward to the fashion show and evening lectures.

Santa Fe is a “hot spot” for vintage boots, so who knows what I’ll find!?

I’m launching a fundraising drive to help cover my web page expenses. If you see a value to my custom bootmaker list, if you like “kickin’ it around” on the bulletin board, or enjoy what I have to say on this weblog…there are a couple of ways you can let me know.

You can use Amazon’s Honor System to give as little as $2 (or as much as $50) with a single click. Amazon.com won’t tell me your name or the size of your gift …unless you use the button on the Thank You page to “send info”.

I’ve also opened an online souvenir stand where you can now buy my Vintage Cowboy Boot Mousepad. (Hey! I know everybody here could use a mousepad.) A portion of each sale will return to me and help pay my expenses.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Unfortunately, many international travelers visiting the United States hope to find a pair of cowboy boots wherever they land. Visitors should know that there are not nearly as many western wear stores and custom bootshops on the Eastern U.S. as there are in other parts of the country. And while you may be able to find a pair of boots in the airport gift shop in El Paso…this doesn’t hold true for other destinations. (See my custom bootmaker list for shop locations.)

If you are headed to the East Coast, I recommend you visit New York City. There are two shops that take custom orders for cowboy boots, and both sell ready-made pairs in stock sizes that you can wear out right out of the store. Each of these shops have a variety of “sample” boots…which provide you with a good idea of what your boots will look like when your custom order is finished. Even though your boots might be purchased in New York, they will likely be made in Texas.

Buffalo Chips Boot Company (…read more.)
426 Washington St. (TriBeCa) …near Vestry St.
(Subway Stops 1, 9 to Franklin St.)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 965-0300
Visit: http://www.buffalochipsbootcompany.net

Billy Martin’s
220 E 60th St
New York, NY 10022
(212) 308-7272
Visit: http://www.billymartin.com
(Billy Martins offers a “private label” boot with custom style options. They will take your measurements and fit you with the best fitting stock size. They do not offer a custom-fit boot.)

Custom Fit Cowboy Boots

If you would like the opportunity to meet your bootmaker (and get additional fitting and style choices)… I would recommend you travel about 2 hours away to visit Wild Bill’s Boots.

Wild Bill’s Boots
Bill Niemczyk, Bootmaker
20 Lakeside Drive
Granby, CT 06035
(860) 844-8440
Wild Bill was one of the select bootmakers featured in Tyler Beard’s book, The Art of the Boot; pages 116-117.

Also, about 4 hours from NYC in Massachusetts, you can see Jim Covington’s work.

Jim Covington Bootmaker
418 Parker Street
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 632-1869
Visit: http://www.jimmielukecovington.com

Mr. Covington runs a one man shop. Originally located in Colorado.

Custom shops often ship out to their customers as soon as they are done. I recommend making an appointment, often bootmakers will hold any finished boots for a day if they know you are coming.

(See my other tips on visiting a custom bootmaker.)

Enjoy your trip!