Updated Apr 30, 2026
9 Great Indonesian Boot Brands You Should Know About
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When asked to guess where the world’s finest boots are made, the average person’s first guess might not be Bandung, Indonesia — but they’ve got a very strong case.
Due to a complex history involving Dutch colonization and Chinese economic development, Indonesia has become the world capital for the intersection of guys who like boots that are casual, high quality, completely custom, and about as handmade as you can get.
Some guys are reluctant to explore this world because most brands don’t have websites and you’ll probably wind up making your order over Whatsapp.
That’s why I invited an expert to join me in listing the best Indonesian boot brands you can trust: Ben Robinson, the man behind the annual boot-and-leather event called the Stitchdown Expo.
Why Indonesian Boots Are Worth It
Most of the makers in this list are found in Bandung, but before we get to that, here’s why every boot enthusiast on Earth has at least heard about how great Indonesia’s boots are.
1. They’re About as Handmade as You Can Get
Most high quality, resoleable boots are made with Goodyear welt construction, made with a machine patented in the 1870s. It was intended to replace the more laborious hand welting, likely invented in the 1500s.
These kinds of Indonesian brands still use machine-free construction methods like hand welting and handsewn stitchdown.
They’ll also last their boots by hand instead of by machine — in fact, almost every part of the process that modern brands do by machine, Bandung does by hand.
And if you’re curious enough to read my guide to hand lasting and guide to hand welting, you’ll see there are arguments to be made that these old fashioned methods produce longer lasting, better fitting boots.
“There are arguments for it,” Ben concedes. “But really, it’s about having that direct connection to an individual maker or a very small workshop. There’s something very special about that.”
Further Reading
Hand Welted vs Goodyear Welted Boots – Why It Matters
Very few boots are made with the kind of construction that’s commonplace in Indonesia, but there are reasons to seek it out. Learn more →
2. Great Value
It’s not exactly true that boots from Bandung are cheap, but they’re cheap for what you’re getting.
What I mean is that the machines I mentioned in the last section do make it much faster and easier to make a resoleable boot. So, all else being equal, the cheapest boot made with machines will cost less than the cheapest boot that isn’t made with machines.
Now, if you get a relatively simple boot from Bandung — something made with local leather and a single midsole — it’ll probably cost between $350 and $400. That’s the same price as a Red Wing Iron Ranger, but it’s made with far more labor and time.
But you can make any kind of boot you want. The last Indonesian boot I had made, which you can see in the picture above, was a Chelsea made with the finest kangaroo leather on Earth (from Italy’s Maryam tannery) and it cost about $700.
If it was made the same way in the the US, that boot would have cost over two grand.
3. They’re Totally Customizable
When you order your boots, they will take a few months to be made for you — yes, that wait is a downside.
But because they’re being made just for you, you get complete control over the design.
“Some brands are basically unlimited in their customization,” says Ben. “For the most part, with enough time, patience and communication, they will source the leathers you want. They will change little details on it. And in the end, you’re kind of getting a ‘one of one,’ if that’s what you want.”
This also means some guys shop Indonesian to get replicas of other boots. If you love Viberg’s Service Boot or Alden’s Indy but you want a pair customized for you, you might be able to find a workshop that will agree to make something very… “similar.” (Just note that a lot of them will decline these sorts of jobs. Yes, I know from experience!)
4. Indonesian Boots Fit Better
Feet are more than their shoe size: a brick might measure size 12 in a shoe store, but that doesn’t mean it’ll fit every size 12 boot. When you order from Indonesia, they’ll ask you to measure both feet to gauge the length, width, instep, ankle, and probably more.
It’s easy to go your whole life without knowing your feet: it wasn’t until I ordered my first pair of Indonesian boots that I learned I have a low instep, skinny ankles, and that my left foot is a quarter size bigger than my right.
“It’s nice to understand what your feet and ankles and arch and instep are,” says Ben. “It can inform footwear decisions for the rest of your life.”
Bandung brands will modify their lasts to accommodate all your foot’s idiosyncrasies, and what you’ll get is the best fitting pair of your life.
The Best Indonesian Boot Companies
Alright, now to the good stuff. In no particular order, here are the best Indonesian boot brands we recommend you check out. Ben and I vouch for these businesses: if you make a purchase, you will receive your order.
1. Sagara Bootmaker
- Helmed by: Bagus Satriow
- Known for: Monkey boots, hiking boots, boondockers
- How to Order: @sagarabootmaker on Instagram, but you can try his website
I made it clear that this list is in no particular order, but I would be remiss if I didn’t emphasize that Sagara’s is ‘s founder Bagus is pretty much the king of Bandung’s bootmakers. I’ve visited the place multiple times, and believe me when I say the industry revolves around him.
His personality is magnetic and his Instagram is replete with clips of him wearing the hell out of his boots all over Java’s jungles, but most importantly: the man’s a professional. He has one of the biggest workshops and he always fulfills his promises.
“Sagara has been at it for a decade and a half, at this point,” says Ben. “Their lace-to-toe Cordmaster boot is one of the best looking monkey boots you can get, and they’ve made an absolute ton of them.”
They’re also well known for boondockers, officer shoes, and brogue boots, but after the Cordmaster they probably sell their hiking boot, the Trailmaster, more than any other.
“They’re really cool, they have an edge to them — it’s different than most of what’s out there on the market,” says Ben. “While the Trailmaster is more of an adapted version of a very purpose driven boot, especially when he makes it out of Shell Cordovan, there’s just an honesty to it. They’ve been tested and worked, and made about as waterproof as you can with old fashioned construction, like Norwegian welts.”
Further Reading
Why Are Americans Obsessed With Indonesian Boots? I went there and asked.
My interview with the founder of Sagara, which I would call Indonesia’s most influential boot brand. Learn more →
2. Onderhoud Handmade
- Helmed by: Rizky Afnan
- Popular models: Boondockers, lace to toe boots
- How to Order: @onderhoud.handmade on Instagram
Perhaps no brand has so much influence for their size: Onderhoud (Dutch for “maintenance”) has just half a dozen employees, but there’s so much demand for their boots that the owner, Rizky, only takes orders a few times a year.
This is usually by announcing a lottery on Instagram, which he’ll invariably close after a few minutes of taking orders.
“He’s a little hard to buy,” says Ben. “But this is the first Indonesian brand that I ordered from and it’s one that I absolutely believe in and wear all the time. Onderhoud is what got me into it.”
US soldiers in World War 2 for famous for wearing boondockers, a roughout service boot that has become very popular among boot enthusiasts today. Rizky is perhaps best known for his almond-toed take on the style, but Ben notes that he also makes excellent tanker boots, lace-to-toe boots, and engineer boots.
3. Briselblack Bootmaker (previously known as Benzein)
- Helmed by: Adi Hermawan
- Known for: Laceless boots (Chelseas, jodhpurs, engineer boots)
- How to Order: @briselblack_bootmaker on Instagram, but you can try his website
Once known as Benzein, Briselblack Bootmaker is best known for their wildly popular Chelsea boot “The Seventh,” so much so that I put it on my list of the world’s best Chelseas.
Adi, the brand’s founder, will tell you his specialty is more broadly laceless boots.
“The Chelsea is still a staple for them, but so are jodhpurs, and their engineer boots are absolutely incredible,” says Ben. “They’ve done a whole bunch of last development and pattern tweaks, and now you can choose from different styles of engineer boots that will suit you.”
Further Reading
Meet the Maker of Asia’s Favorite Chelsea Boots
An interview we shot at Briselblack’s Bandung workshop where we learned about Adi’s philosophy and favorite leathers. Learn more →
4. Midas Bootmaker / Winson Shoemaker
- Helmed by: Emil Rahmana Putra
- Known for: Dress boots / dress shoes
- How to Order: @midasbootmaker on Instagram
Before Midas Bootmaker, there was Winson Shoemaker, which carved out a niche as the place to go in Indonesia for dress shoes both traditional and creative. To challenge himself further, Emil Rahmana Putra went on to launch Midas Bootmaker, where he explores every side of the dress boot.
(Although, like all of these brands, Emil will make you any kind of boot you want.)
“Midas boots carry over the dress sensibilities from Winson,” says Ben. “I would say they’re a little less rugged and have more of an emphasis on detail work. But they often just have a ton of personality: you can get very straightforward oxfords, but they have a huge last selection that can add a ton of flavor to what they’re doing.”
Winson and Midas are also brands that have a good reputation for remote bespoke: you send in your measurements, have conversations, and they’ll create a whole last just for your feet.
“I know people who have done that and been very, very happy with it,” says Ben. “They nail the fit.”
5. Txture
- Helmed by: Joe Rahadiantara
- Known for: Longwing boots, leather duck boots
- How to Order: +62-818-898-873 on Whatsapp; they have a website too
While they’re less online than some brands, Txture is one of the older and larger operations in the scene, now boasting nearly twenty employees.
Given their output and their success, they’re less known for “niche-ing” down on individual models than some other brands on this list — a quick look at their Instagram shows that while they lean roomy and round, they’ll make just about anything you ask for.
That said…
“One of the toughest boots to make is a longwing pattern. Turning that into a boot is just tricky, the all end up looking very strange. But Txture makes a mean one of those,” says Ben. “They make an all leather duck boot, like a Bean Boot, which is very memorable.”
Ben thinks they can be summed up by an Instagram caption he once saw that simply says: Txture only goes for it.
Further Reading
Oxford, Derby, Wingtip and Longwing: Business Casual Shoe Guide
We went to India for a taxonomy of all the shoes for collared shirts. Learn more →
6. Junkard
- Helmed by: Tangguh Alexander
- Known for: Sleeker, more refined takes on classic boots
- How to order: Best to e-mail [email protected] or Whatsapp +62-878-0256-6640
Junkard has a good selection of casual boots and shoes, such as service boots, moc-toe boots, brogues, and loafers. All their offerings are made-to-order, and there’s a good selection of lasts, leathers, soles, and many other details to personalize.
Like a lot of the older brands, Junkard are less known for focusing on a particular type of boot and they’ll make anything up to a purple cordovan boondocker (above). But some consider them especially gifted at producing sleeker, smarter takes on classic styles.
7. Renav Goods Co.
- Helmed by: Naviri Ray
- Known for: Service boots, side zip boots, engineer boots
- How to Order: @renavgoodsco on Instagram, or Whatsapp +62-831-939-53047
One of the few outfits based in the capital of Jakarta, Renav Goods Co emphasizes round toes and casual footwear like side zip boots, engineers, service boots, derbies, and whole cut slippers.
“Ray is a little more down the line. He makes a great service boot and a nice engineer boot,” says Ben. “He was the first Indonesian brand to join the Stitchdown Expo last year, it was such an incredible honor.”
8. Prof Barnets
- Helmed by: Haris Bedul
- Known for: Chunky lasts, daring patterns
- How to Order: Whatsapp is preferred +62-831-939-53047
There’s nothing wrong with brands like Renav and Junkard, who don’t really focus so much on one particular boot or aesthetic.
But Prof Barnets really leans into bold and chunky boots — often adorned with flames.
“He makes a big honkin’ engineer boot. Not a sleek one,” Ben says with clear adoration in his voice. “He’ll make them with flame-type decals happening on the pattern and just like, a very, very aggressive aesthetic.”
9. Fortuna
- Helmed by: The Chandra family
- Known for: Shoes and loafers
- How to order: They have a good website, but like you to communicate on Whatsapp: +62-812-2000-202
Remember when I said Bandung’s boot scene revolves around Bagus, the gregarious founder of Sagara? The men behind Fortuna are the only people I’ve seen make him nervous: Fortuna were founded in 1969, decades before anyone else on this list, and they’re considered the scene’s founding fathers.
They specialize in traditional shoes and loafers, which makes sense given they’re the foundation of Bandung footwear: you start with the classics.
Before Buying Indonesian Boots
With their price advantage and unique charm, it’s important to remember that Indonesian-made leather footwear also has its trade-offs. There are several considerations you might wanna look at before pulling the trigger.
Communication
Given that most of these bootmakers are very small workshops, they are only reachable via Instagram, Line, WhatsApp, or email. Only a handful of brands have a website that you can order through.
The shoemakers speak decent English, and especially with the advent of AI translation software, the language barrier has never been lower.
Still, sometimes there will be long waits between communications before they begin work on your boots.
Further Reading
The 5 Best Japanese Boot Brands
We met up with experts to find the best Japanese boot brands on the market. Learn more →
Delays
“There are often hiccups in the process,” says Ben. “Maybe the materials didn’t get there, maybe somebody got sick, maybe there was a massive natural disaster. It floods a lot in these areas.”
Wait time
It’s completely dependent on the time of year and how many customers are already waiting, but expect a few months. Sometimes it’s longer (Onderhoud was at six months when I last asked), sometimes it’s less.
The good news is that just about any brand can make just about anything you want, so if you have a design in mind, you can just reach out to multiple brands to see who has the shortest wait time.
Sometimes there will be a younger, hungrier, less established brand that’s able to offer shorter lead times while they’re making their name. Well…
Sketchy Brands
In your search for a short wait time, you might be tempted by a brand that isn’t on this list. Sometimes it pays off: Jakkrabbits is an example of a brand that was very new when I ordered from them and I got my boots in under a month.
But sometimes, brands will get overwhelmed by orders and simply wind up not fulfilling them. If you’re not sure if a brand you’re looking at is legit, send a DM on Instagram to me or Stitchdown and we’ll let you know if there’s any tea.
We’ll go on record with one brand, though: don’t order from Fortis.
Are Indonesian Boots Your Next Purchase?
To wrap it up, boots like these have distinct advantages with regard to value, customizability, fit, and durability. The only real downside is the wait time, and if you can stomach that, you’ll love your Indonesian boots more than any of your others.
Some guys are reluctant to make such a purchase given so many of the brands can only be ordered on WhatsApp. That’s why we wrote this article: Ben and I have firsthand experience with all of them, and we’ve personally met all of their founders.
No matter what kind of boot you’re interested in, a patient man can be comfortable making his next purchase from this list.
