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Flash Sale: Custom Alligator Cowboy Boots!
This holiday season we are offering several flash sales! This is perfect for those individuals who are just unwilling to wait for their custom cowboy boots. Throughout the season, we will publish several random stock size boots with a random design at a random time, and offering them at a discounted rate! To kick things off, the flash sale starts NOW! Ready, set... GO!
Size: 10D
Vamps: American Alligator
Tops: Kangaroo with cording
Toe: French toe
Heel: #3 (1 5/8th inch)
Height: 12 inches
Price: $2500 but now $2000!
The Art of Boot Making: Lasting
As many of you know, there is nothing worse than an ill fitting boot. The pain you experience after a couple of hours or so can be TOUGH! Whether it's tightness in the ball of your foot or calf, or even that searing pain in your arches, the pain is real and often unbearable.
While these "off the shelf" boots or even misfitting custom boots can be a pain, they are often what lead customers to our doorstep. Handcrafting custom cowboy boots is no simple task, and many often inquire on what exactly it entails. Therefore, this blog series is going to center around the art of making a custom cowboy boot.
The obvious first step in boot making is taking your measurements but it is after this that the crucial first step of the manufacturing process takes place; last making. To begin, lasts are wooden molds of your feet derived from your measurements. Recently, I read that less than 10% of people over the age of 20 years old have identical feet so you can imagine how much time and precision goes into these wooden shapes.
This process takes time and dedication to learn as the last maker reading your measurements is like a translator. They translate your one dimensional tracing along with several measurements in order to build 3D representations of your feet. It is here that a mere 1/16th of an inch can make all the difference in the world.
To begin the translation process, they start by finding a standard stock last that comes closest to your measurements. From here, they build up the last where it is necessary. For instance, they add leather in areas where your foot has irregularities due to age or injuries, such is case for bunions, "hammer toes," and various other foot issues. They create these "build outs" with pieces of leather glued to the last. After this, the leather can be skived and sanded down in order to achieve the ideal dimensions.
Additionally, we like to add a small piece of leather and begin the toe shaping process. While this is not necessary, we like to do this in order to make the process run smoother once the boot reaches "toes."
Once all the additions are made, and the toe is securely fastened, our last makers will go back and check all their measurements before giving the last a smooth finish and passing it along to the next station; patterns and leather cutting. Stay tuned to learn more on the art of boot making!
FAQ's:
1) How long does Paul Bond Boots keep my last?
If you are a frequent boot purchaser, we will keep your last forever. However, if it is a one time purchase, we might use your last for someone else after a year's time. The good news is, we keep your card which has a detailed description of how your last was built. That way, if you decide to order again, we should have no problem replicating your last.
*Fun fact, we have one of the largest collections of wooden last in the world! Therefore, if we don't need your last for someone else, your last could be around for a longggggg time!
2) How long is my last "valid?"
We ask for new measurements every 10 years as your foot changes over time. We want your last to reflect those changes.
3) What happens if I receive my boots and they aren't fitting properly?
We will make the necessary adjustments to your boot in order for it to fit you. Additionally, we make the alterations to your last to ensure your next boot fits even better!
Earn 10% Off your Next Pair of Custom Boots!
From time to time Paul Bond Boots likes to offer a promotion to our wonderful customers. This summer that promotion is going to take place in the form of a referral program. For every customer you refer in the month of August, you will receive 10% off your next pair of custom cowboy boots! And guess what, that 10% is cumulative so for every additional customer you refer, you gain an additional 10% off! And to take this one step further, we will extend the 10% offer to the customer you refer as well!
So while you are busy referring your friends and family, take some time to view some our latest custom creations!
Happy browsing!
Measurement Options
Here at Paul Bond Boots, we craft fine American made custom cowboy boots using your personal designs, measurements, and leather choices. Crafted by our highly skilled artisans, every boot is built from the ground up using only the highest quality leathers and methods. Our goal is to create works of art that you can wear and enjoy for years to come.
When it comes to custom boots, most people are overwhelmed, particularly when it comes to the measurement process. We are here to make this as simple as possible.
To get started, check out the following fit options:
1) Have a buddy measure you, using one of our measurement kits. You can even watch Mr. Paul Bond himself with this video!
2) Make an adventure out of it and come see us in Nogales, Arizona.
3) Fly one of our experts out to see you - great for big groups!
4) Come see us at a Trade Show.
If you have any questions, please let us know. We will go above and beyond in order to attain your best measurements - we've even done Skype video chats! The sky is the limit, so go ahead, give us a call!
The Language of Leather: Part 3
Welcome back guys! Today we are exploring exotics, the last part of this three part series, in The Language of Leather. Exotics are always a fun topic for us because there is such a wide range these days, particularly in respect to color and texture. Many believe that exotics are strictly for formal wear, but the truth is, they can be "dressed down" as well, allowing your custom boots to go from the office to a night on the town with ease.
To begin, let's define the exotic leather options. The most popular are alligator, ostrich, and lizard. However, today we expand this category to include stingray, elephant, shark, and snake/python.
Alligator is considered the premiere option in the exotic class, as well as the most expensive. In the past, alligator custom made boots would be worn solely on formal occasions. However, today they can be
"dressed down," utilizing horned back or even the oily tanned versions. To be clear, I use the term "dressed down" lightly, as alligator is and will always be statement handmade cowboy boots. Paul always said that "no finer boot can be made," than the spectacular Las Vegas. I would have to agree!
Ostrich on the other hand, is considered the most comfortable of the exotics for custom cowboy boots. It molds to your foot overtime like a sock. Additionally, it is lighter and airier than its alligator counterpart due to its quill pattern. In terms of price, full quill is the most expensive. However, you can get a similar look at a more affordable price point if you opt for half quill or smooth ostrich instead. Like alligator, ostrich is great with a suit, or a nice pair of blue jeans. The choice is yours!
Lizard is ideal for providing an exotic, elegant feel, yet at a more affordable price point than gator or ostrich. It is known for its scuff resistant tendencies and high gloss finish. However, in my opinion, it is more difficult to dress down lizard due to its glossy texture. Therefore, if you are looking for great dress custom made boots at a super affordable price point, lizard is the skin for you! An added bonus is the wide variety of colors it is available in.
Now moving on to the less discussed exotics like stingray, elephant, snake, and shark. Custom cowboy boots with stingray vamps run right in the middle in terms of price point. They are slightly more expensive than lizard, but less expensive than gator and ostrich. Stingray is the most scratch and abrasion resistant of all leathers. As many of you know, here at Paul Bond Custom Boots, our leathers are "pre-stretched" in order to have that "broken in" feel the first time you wear them. However, stingray has very little give in it. Because of this factor, it has a tendency to feel snug particularly in the ball and instep. Over time, it will give and mold to your foot. My recommendation is to start with basic handmade cowboy boots if you are considering stingray, in order to get your fit perfect. Once your fit is spot on, move onto stingray as a second pair of custom made boots. The great thing about this leather is the uniqueness of it's pattern, its durability, as well as a wide variety of color options.
Elephant has been a really popular choice in custom boots as of late and runs the same price as stingray. It is known for its durability and unique tanning options. In my opinion, elephant is more casual on the spectrum in terms of exotics. You can opt for a matte version, which most people are accustomed to, or now, you can go for the suede version, which is softer to the touch; less rugged.
NOTE: I want to assure you that all of our leathers, including elephant, are sourced in an ethical way. The only country that legally exports elephant is Zimbabwe. These elephants are raised for years in national parks. As their numbers multiply in the area, the elephants begin to destroy the vegetation and the ecosystem of the land. This is when they must control the population. Not only is this monitored by their government, but by the US government as well.These are the only elephants we are sourcing - like you, we would not be comfortable using elephants that were poached or illegally attained.
As mentioned previously, shark is very difficult to source at the moment due to certain fishing methods that are taking place. However, when shark is accessible it is a great exotic, particularly for a working cowboy boot due to its durability and scuff resistant texture.
And lastly, snake custom cowboy boots are beautiful exotics with a wide range of pattern and color variations. With this leather, it is important to note that it takes a considerable amount of maintenance. The scales need to be conditioned on a regular basis. You must clean under the scales where dust can accumulate and harm the leather. However, if you don't mind that, this leather makes for beautiful handmade cowboy boots with a lot of shine and pizazz!
NOTE: Keep in mind, in terms of all leathers, particularly exotics, you must clean and condition them on a regular basis in order to keep their luster and lengthen their lifespan. Our custom made boots get better with age, if taken care of.
As you can see, there are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing leathers, many of which we have discussed in length throughout this series. Exotics can be a tough choice, particularly because of the added expense. My goal is for you to be educated on each leather so you know exactly what you are getting into when you decide to purchase your custom boots! As we move forward, I would love to hear about any topics you might be interested in. For instance, the importance of handmade cowboy boots maintenance, or even a deeper dive into the production process.
The Language of Leather: Part 2
During Part 1 of this series, we discussed choosing your leathers based on occasion. However, today we are going to come at it from a different vantage point. I want to discuss what feel you are going for in your custom boots. Soft and malleable? Sturdy and tough? Or even soft, yet durable! (Yes, you can have both!) I will preface this by saying that all of our handmade cowboy boots are custom fit to your size, and should be comfortable on your foot, as well as durable. Quality custom cowboy boots should last you approximately 10 years, and many last a lifetime. Therefore, this series is all a matter of preference, and worth exploring.
To begin, let's start with the people who are looking for that soft, and pliable leather. This is great for individuals with foot issues such as gout, bunions, excessive swelling, and/or prior foot injuries. By far, our most popular leather in this category is our Italian Kangaroo. Although I don't have many issues with my feet, I tend to like kangaroo for it's light weight feel. It has this great "barely there" aspect that makes them really easy to wear.
Another skin that falls into this category would be our traditional calf skin. Many would argue that it doesn't scuff as easy, and I would have to agree with that statement. Many of us are tough on our custom made boots, and in this case I would recommend calf over kangaroo. It won't be as lightweight but it will give you a similar feel in terms of pliability. Additionally, they look almost identical from an aesthetic standpoint, with calf having slightly more grain to it.
Now moving into the hides known for their durability such as bull hide, bison, shark, and elephant. These make for great working cowboy boots that can also be shined up for formal occasions. For several reasons, a popular choice these days has been bull hide. For starters, it comes in a variety of colors unlike bison which tends to be available in 4 standard colors, black, and 3 shades of brown. Additionally, it takes a great shine with availability in both high gloss and matte.
Bison, elephant, and shark are all great options as well. Bison has been a fan favorite for custom cowboy boots due to its deep grain and rich tones. However, some say it tends to give a little more than your average leather. So if you are looking for a looser fit over time, or something that "grows with you," bison could be the perfect choice. Elephant on the other hand has grown in custom boots popularity due to its wide variety of tanning options and ability to "take a beating." We have access to matte, vintage, safari, and suede as shown below.
Lastly, I want to take a look at ostrich and all its glory! Ostrich is known as one of the all time most comfortable handmade cowboy boots leathers, especially in the exotic realm. Not only does it mold to your foot with its extreme pliability, it is also very durable. Additionally, we have a large library of colors from bright turquoise to muted saddle tones. You name it, and we can find it!
I know not all leathers were covered today, so I encourage you to leave a comment on this post if you have additional questions. The world of leather is endless, making it overwhelming at times. Please remember we are here to help, we make it our job to know everything there is to know about this subject matter.
In the meantime, be on the lookout for our final post in The Language of Leather series where I will be discussing exotics, a category of leather in a league of it's own. Here we will discuss several things such as what leathers are considered exotic? What are the pros and cons of certain exotics? And even more important, price points!
For a look at all our leather options, click here: http://www.paulbondboots.com/pages/boot-anatomy
The Language of Leather: Part 1
I think by now you all have a good idea of who I am and what I am doing at Paul Bond Custom Boots, but now I'd like to change up the topic of conversation. My goal is to address all those sticky wickets of the custom made boots ordering process. I know this process can be overwhelming so whether you are struggling with leather decisions or handmade cowboy boot styles, or even wait time or price, I am here to help.
To begin this series, I want to start with the most common question I get; what is the best leather for me?
If you were to ask Paul this question, he would always respond with.. "How do you intend to use these boots?" I am going to take that question a few steps further and break it down into three simple pieces:
When thinking about occasion, think about the objective of your handmade cowboy boots. How will you use them most? If the answer to that question is to work, we need to put you in a highly durable and scuff resistant leather such as french waxed calf, elephant, bull shoulder, bison, or shark (difficult to source at the moment).
Our most popular is french waxed calf, illustrated in our working cowboy boot, but in high demand lately has been the wide variety of elephant on the market these days.
Main Street USA
Stay tuned for more updates on air date and time!
The Texas Hill Country at it's Finest
What was such a whirlwind of a trip to the Texas Hill Country turned out to be one of our best yet! I drove down to Fredericksburg, Texas a recent Friday afternoon for an Art Auction hosted by Insight Gallery. Walking in, I had no idea what an experience I was about to have. To begin, owners David and Meredith Plesko were beyond kind and helpful. They were swamped with last minute details, however Meredith still took the time to help me setup. Once the preview party began, I had the opportunity to talk to some fascinating people, some who had heard of Paul Bond Boots and others, who had not. Having the chance to share Paul’s story with newcomers is one of the best parts of my job. It gives me the opportunity to, in a small way, continue the legacy of Paul Bond Boots. Not only did I meet new people, I learned of other future events to attend such as the Dallas Safari Club's 2016 Tradition's Convention. To add icing to the already phenomenal cake, I was able to see some of the most beautiful American and Western Art my eyes have ever laid eyes upon! If art is your thing, its time to head down to Insight Gallery to meet some serious collectors!
After a great night with great conversation centered on all things creative – artwork, boots, and design, the night continued to an even more picturesque venue – Settlers Crossing, a beautiful bed & breakfast owned by dear friends of Paul Bond Boots, David and Melissa Estes. As we drove in, I can honestly say I didn't feel like I was in Texas anymore. It was more like the French countryside that included everything from ponies, donkeys, and goats to cobble stone pathways and trees with romantic twinkle lights. The weather was a crisp 60 degrees as we sat in our rocking chairs with good music, great cocktails, and even better company. While I was there, I measured their adventurous young daughter, Gracie, who knew exactly what she wanted - brown boots with flowers and turquoise accents. Consider it done Gracie, it would be an honor to make boots for such a true cowgirl! We retired for the evening to a quaint and comfortable cottage where I laid my head down and dreamt of a simple life surrounded by amazing people, beautiful country side, and of course, custom cowboy boots.
As I drove off the next day, I knew one thing for sure, Fredericksburg, that was not our last rodeo, we'll be back!
The Pioneer Log Cabin, where we stayed was built circa 1865 - it was like going back in time, in the best sense possible!
I wasn't kidding about the donkeys!
April Customer of the Month - "The Guy Who Wants Nothing"
The theme of 2015 so far has been all about getting to know our customers – who they are, what they like, and why they love Paul Bond. This month, we decided to interview our first ever, Paul Bond Customer of the Month.
As many of you know, we had a #mypbb contest, where individuals were asked to post pictures of themselves in their Paul Bond’s and tell us why we are their “go-to” boot maker. The winner of this challenge was Mark George, with this photo!
Clearly, this image tells us a lot about Mr. George, however, we had to know more! Here’s what we found out:
Referred to by his son as “the guy who wants nothing,” Mark embodies the American Dream, at least from a male perspective! With a propensity for quality craftsmanship, his favorite toys include his D-18 Martin Retro guitar, his Harley, his 1946 J3 Cub airplane, and of course, his Paul Bond’s.
Having been in aviation his entire life, he knew his J3 Cub would be the central focus of his first pair of Paul Bond’s. This particular plane was manufactured in Pennsylvania, his home state, and it was the first plane made for the masses after WWII. To add to the significance, this Cub has been in the George family for generations and was restored by Mr. George himself, and his dear friend, Mr. Albert Kreller.
For his second pair, he plans to inlay his Martin guitar, combining yet another passion of his with his Paul Bond Boots. He mentioned that he loves our ability to take an image and have it come to life with his custom cowboy boots. But even more so, he loves the fact that he has had his boots for over 10 years, wears them on a regular basis, and they still look brand new!
The three things that Mr. George couldn't live without include his family, toys, and 2 dogs, Zeus and Jack. When he is not flying commercially, his boots are with him every step of the way. On an ending note, Mr. George had one thing to say:
“I plan on being buried with both my airplane and my boots!”
We must say that we truly admire you Mr. George - you are a lover of life, and there is no better way to describe you than how your son so finely put it, "a man who wants nothing."
© 2024 Paul Bond
