Nick
Rider Boot Company! Not a company that makes horse riding boots, a company that makes svelte and snappy boots that’s run by Ron Rider and his family. It’s a pretty small outfit based in Richomnd, Virginia, but the boots are actually made in the Italian region of Giussano, between Milan and Como. The Dundalk is … Read more
Business Insider says they’re “all over Instagram,” Forbes says millennials are “obsessed with them,” so why are you supposed to be so crazy about Koio’s sneakers? I’ve been wearing these Capri Triple Whites that they sent me for about two months, and this is the best review you’re going to get. Koio is one of … Read more
If you’ve searched for the best moc toe boot, you’ve probably come across these two iconic, American made boots: Red Wing and Thorogood. The two are locked in an eternal struggle for superiority, and they have a lot of similarities: golden oil tanned leather, white wedge soles, cork midsoles, triple stitching, and a whole lot … Read more
I always thought a Chelsea was a Chelsea was a Chelsea until I came across the Holt, the aesthetic of which I can only describe as a Chelsea from the future. Founded in 2009 by Josh Binghaman and now a fixture of Austin’s shoe scene, Helm is a company that I’ve always liked for their … Read more
There is a new minimalist white sneaker in town. Well. new-ish. Oliver Cabell launched in 2018 with the goal of making shoes that are more “honest” than the bigger brands. Their whole schtick is that most brands don’t tell you how much their markups are, but they painstakingly list every item in their production process: … Read more
The Rhodes line of boots is a product of Huckberry, an online men’s store that the founders envisioned as “equal parts store, magazine, and inspiration.” It’s very mensy and very heritage, with a lot of old fashioned outdoorsy stuff like waxed jackets, leather jackets, selvedge jeans, and, of course, boots. While most of their inventory … Read more
YRX. A weird name for a millennial-owned company that makes some delightfully weird boots. On the FAQ section on their site where the frequently asked question is “what does YRX mean?” they snarkily reply with “What does Nike, Google, IKEA or Sony mean?” So, I guess it means nothing, but they call themselves a minimalist … Read more
Founded in 1997 by Toru Nogami, Samurai Jeans was launched a fair amount of time after the Japanese denim scene kind of debuted in the 1970s, but while that’s when it started it really exploded in the 90s. That’s when Nogami-san starting out making cuts inspired by vintage Levi’s jeans, and they expanded into a … Read more
Sutro Footwear has been in business for over 35 years and they’re the San Francisco boot company. The company is named after a former mayor of the city and all of their shoes are named after streets and landmarks around town. The company is pretty well known for their low prices, Italian lasts, and the unusual … Read more
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably suspecting it and I’m here to confirm: Schott makes the American leather jacket Irving Schott and his brother Jack, sons of Russian immigrants, started the company on New York City’s Lower East Side in 1913. The company swears that Irving was the first man to ever put … Read more