Lucchese Bootmaker has spent more than a century perfecting his craft and is still proud to produce the majority of his products on American soil.
The Texas-based retailer, founded in 1883, sells a range of luxury Western products but is best known for its cowboy boots, which are handcrafted with “the finest raw materials,” according to Doug Hogue, vice president of brand and product at Lucchese Bootmaker.
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At the company’s production facility in El Paso, as many as 200 artisans touch each boot.
Lucchese Bootmaker is still proud that the majority of its products are produced on American soil. (Blair Getz Mezibov, courtesy of Lucchese Bootmaker)
“I’ve seen a lot of companies moving products overseas,” Hogue said. “It’s really important to us to preserve that heritage, and it’s really a very important part of our authenticity.”
The process of making each cowboy boot begins with selecting the last – the shape around which each boot is built – followed by the selection of materials. The company uses a “tremendous” amount of exotic materials, including alligator, ostrich and crocodile, according to Hogue.
“We make sure every pair of boots match,” he said. “…So they look like they came from a similar animal.”
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Founded in 1883, the Texas-based retailer sells a range of luxury Western products, but is best known for its cowboy boots. (Blair Getz Mezibov, courtesy of Lucchese Bootmaker)
Once the materials are chosen, the components are cut, stitched, embroidered and assembled.
“The boots are made inside out,” Hogue said. “So everything is stitched from the inside out, and halfway through the assembly process they’re actually pulled through so they’re right side out.”
From there, the boots undergo a process of durability and stitching, followed by a finishing process that includes sanding, staining and polishing. According to Hogue, the entire process takes about four to six weeks.
“Each boot is made one at a time, he said. “There are no racks of 24, 36 or 48 boots all going through at once. Each boot is individual.”
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While boots remain the core of Lucchese’s business, the company also sells cowboy hats, shirts, suit jackets, handbags, accessories, wallets, travel items and more, according to its website. (Dusana Risovic/Penske Media via / Getty Images)
The company’s best-selling “Original Exotic” men’s boots cost about $3,995, while the classic “Original” men’s boots cost about $1,195, according to the website.
While boots remain the core of Lucchese’s business, the company also sells cowboy hats, shirts, suit jackets, handbags, accessories, wallets, travel items and more, according to its website.
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“We make a whole range of products for the Western lifestyle,” says Hogue. “It’s not just cowboy boots…. We try to dress our male and female consumers from head to toe…. We are a lifestyle brand and not just a boot maker.”
