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Our Experts

Stridewise.com’s Expert Network comprises some of the foremost authorities in high-end and durable footwear and menswear. Each member of our Expert Network brings extensive experience to their respective industries, from design and manufacturing to brand leadership and retail expertise. Our network includes influential bootmakers, CEOs, journalists, and historians who have used their insights to improve the content on Stridewise.com.

Articles that have been Expert Approved are distinctly marked at the beginning. This badge highlights the experts who have personally reviewed and endorsed the content, ensuring our readers receive the most reliable and accurate advice available.

Mike L Larson Last and Heritage Footwear expert

Mike Larson

Global Product Design & Development Manager | Red Wing Heritage

Mike has spent over a decade learning from veteran tanners and shoemakers in Red Wing, Minnesota, and today manages product design and development for the USA’s most iconic boot brand, Red Wing Heritage.

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Yoki leather bag expert

Yoki Baskara

Leatherworker & Founder | Cravar

Yoki is the founder of Cravar, a bag company that changed the landscape of Indonesia’s leather goods industry.

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nolan walsh ceo and creative director Thursday boot company

Nolan Walsh

CEO & Creative Director | Thursday Boot Company

After 10 years of developing hundreds of materials and lasts, Nolan has a uniquely profound understanding of footwear manufacturing and design processes, and has turned Thursday Boot Company into the fastest growing brand in the space.

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Bahzad Trinos Bio

Bahzad Trinos

Creative Director | Naked & Famous Denim

Bahzad has a wealth of experience across multiple areas of heritage menswear. This includes sales, merchandising, buying, product development, design, and general management at Naked & Famous Denim, where he’s responsible for many of the brand’s most memorable fabrics.

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Weston Kay

Leatherworker & Founder | Rose Anvil

Weston Kay is a professional leatherworker, boot surgeon, and the founder of Rose Anvil, a leather goods shop and a juggernaut of a YouTube enterprise with over a million subscribers across three channels. 

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Justin FitzPatrick

Founder & Shoemaker | J. FitzPatrick Footwear

Justin FitzPatrick apprenticed in bespoke shoemaking in Italy under the late Stefano Bemer, and after years of working in London and Paris, he launched J. FitzPatrick in Soho, Manhattan.

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Ticho Blanco expert bio pic

Ticho Blanco

Boot Photographer & Expert | Ticho Blanco

Ticho Blanco is a marketing consultant, co-host of the excellent podcast The Stitchdown Shoecast, and the feet behind the popular Instagram account @tichoblancoshoes.

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Affan Mohammed Managing Director & Shoemaker at Bridlen

Affan Mohammed

Managing Director & Shoemaker | Bridlen Shoes

Affan Mohammed, a third-generation cordwainer and shoemaker-in-chief at Bridlen. Affan studied under an experienced Northhampton-based last maker and apprenticed under Kiyotaka Watanabe.
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mike pelzer

Mike Pelzer

COO & Co-Founder | Adelante Shoes

Mike Pelzer is the COO and co-founder of Adelante Shoes, a made-to-order footwear brand with the goal of improving the livelihoods and job security of Guatemala’s shoemakers — and the goal of offering an array of fits and handmade touches seldom seen at this pricepoint.

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Dale Basista leatheworker expert bio

Dale Basista

Leatherworker & Founder | Dale’s Leatherworks

Dale Basista is a leatherworker, boot collector, and YouTuber who turned his hobby into a thriving handmade goods business and an extraordinary wealth of knowledge about leatherwear.

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mohsin sajid bio pic

Mohsin Sajid

Lecturer, Professor, & Founder | The Denim School & Endrime

Mohsin Sajid has spent 25 years in the denim industry with a career including teaching at over 40 universities, producing documentaries, bespoke tailoring, and launching the denim brand Endrime.

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Michael Kristy Bio Pic

Michael Kristy

Videographer & Founder | The Iron Snail

Michael Kristy, founder of The Iron Snail, creates durable, cool denim and menswear. He also produces the extremely popular YouTube & TikTok channels dedicated to high-quality garments and products.

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A picture of Trenton Potter

Trenton Potter

Cobbler | Potter & Sons

Trenton is a professional shoe cobbler and co-owns of Southern Polished sandals with his brother Heath. The gents can be found on their YouTube channel Trenton and Heath, with almost half a million subscribers.

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george vlagos oak street bootmaker expert bio pic

George Vlagos

Founder | Oak Street Bootmakers

George Vlagos founded Oak Street Bootmakers and the Independence heritage menswear store in Chicago. He works to preserve the heritage of fine American shoemaking through thoughtfully designed and attentively crafted shoes and boots. 

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Chris Woodford

Managing Director | Crown Northampton Shoes

Chris Woodford is the founder and Managing Director of Crown Northampton Shoes, broadly considered to be among the world’s most premium sneaker brands.

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Micheal Baston expert bio pic, a man wearing a leather apron in a leather workshop

Michael Batson

Vice President | North Star Leather

Michael Batson, the Vice President and Heir Apparent of North Star Leather, grew up around leather at the company his father founded in 1969.
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Sandeep Parihar expert bio pic

Sandeep Parihar

Co-Owner | BLKBRD Shoemaker

Sandeep Parihar co-owns BLKBRD Shoemaker, aiming to elevate India’s global footwear presence with high-quality shoes rivaling European craftsmanship.
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Founded in 2018 to help men buy the best boots, we’ve since expanded our team and purview to review and celebrate casual footwear and menswear that’s as close to “buy it for life” quality as possible. We take great pride in being a trusted source for information while maintaining complete editorial independence. At no extra cost to you, we might earn a commission from a brand when you purchase through our links, which helps us keep our mission alive. Learn More

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Yup, we even trademarked it. Just because you’re dressed down, doesn’t mean you have to dress bad. 

This site started to help guys find the best boots for their dollar and has since expanded to cover the highest quality casual menswear, from leather jackets to selvedge jeans to canvas bags — the kind of simple, fashionproof classics that help you get dressed without overthinking your “style.” Read more

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