Our Story
When fancy Cowboy Boots strode across the silver screen. When Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys waltzed across Texas. When Stevie Ray ripped at Clifford Antone's. When Waylon Jennings smoked one at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Our boots are inspired by this classic era. The big screen. The old and new of this vibrant city. This city of the violet crown.
The Beginning
Austin, Texas, 2005, Heritage Boot Co. was born. Inspired by old Austin. And new Austin. And Honky Tonk. We knew the truth in the famous quote "the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." So we aimed to make the best. Not the fastest, not the cheapest. The best damn boot on the planet. Heritage today remains true to that vision with the passing of the torch from the original mastermind to employee ownership.
The How
Made in small batches. With a 200 hand-touch process. By 3rd-generation artisans. To the highest of old-world standards. Our boot-makers are in León, Mexico, proclaimed as the shoemaking capital of the world. Our third-generation boot-maker is working alongside his two amazing daughters to continue the legacy of his grandfather. In their small shop nestled amongst the large factories. They are creating handmade masterpieces. They make boots the way you would want them to be made. With the comfort and durability multiple decades of experience can produce.
The Shop
Our foundational one and only store sits on the storied South Congress Avenue Shopping District. Old-school customer service. Genuine personal care and attention. The retro and the modern. The eclectic. The pioneer spirit and its counterculture. All live and breathe right here. On this street. On the edge of Hill Country, in full view of the State Capitol. If you want to shop for Cowboy Boots, this is the place to come. Put it on your "must do in Austin" list - "Grab a coffee and croissant. A margarita and a taco. Browse a few boutiques and jewelry stores. Shop for cowboy boots on South Congress Avenue. Make your way to Heritage Boot."
"I remember first seeing Barney Kessel, in the 1940's, standing on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, in his cowboy boots, sun glasses, hipster threads, holding his guitar case man, you just knew that cat could wail!"- Anita O'Day
The Who
What happens when a global pandemic shuts down the entire world and a touring musician, his cowboy boot store maven wife, and their cowboy boot store maven friend are faced with no employment as the touring industry dries up and the boot store owner decides to pass the torch? They purchase the cowboy boot store!
Heritage Boot Co. began as a handmade, vintage-inspired cowboy boot store. It moved through a few locations in Austin, Texas before finding a permanent home at 1714A South Congress, a famed shopping district in the live music capital city. The cowboy boots are grand. You can tell at first glance they are extremely well made, and they stand the test of the fourth and fifth glance too. Many have a love affair with these handmade, vintage-inspired cowboy boots. Many more will come.
Steven and Alie Twigger walked into the boot store after relocating to Austin in an effort to purchase the best handmade cowboy boots they could find. Steven, an Englishman immersed in the Irish music scene, is a professional musician—a unicorn of sorts. His wife, Alie Twigger, is a creative and inspired New Englander from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They each purchased a pair of Heritage Boots. Drawn to the superb craftsmanship, Alie began working for the esteemed establishment, where she contributed to both the designs and marketing efforts. She remains a Boot Maven today and now co-owns the store with her husband and their business partner.
Kimber Breaux—a spirited lifetime cowgirl, all-things-cowboy enthusiast, and native Texan—has also morphed into a maven. She embraced the culture and the exquisite product at Heritage Boot. The old-world methodology that ensures the integrity of the product served as a sturdy foundation for her growth and metamorphosis from a children's songwriter and former fitness professional into a "Boot Maven." She too remains one today and completes the ownership trio of the store.
This fully handmade, vintage-inspired cowboy boot store in the historic South Congress shopping district in famed Austin, Texas, partners with a badass bootmaker. He is multi-generational, inheriting the passion, inspiration, and talent of his father and his grandfather before that. His daughters are both now active in the boot-making process. It is a way of life for them. Their grandfather began as a custom boot maker, and they have successfully grown the business.
Their boots are unmatched in quality, comfort, and old-world design. Their vision combined with the owners of Heritage Boot has ignited a rebirth of the Golden Era of the Cowboy Boot—the 1930s through the 1960s and even a dash of the coolest clothing decade, the 1970s. The partnership works.
Heritage makes a handmade boot that bridges the gap between a full custom boot and a factory, mass-produced boot. They make custom-quality boots you can walk out the door with the same day you walk in. Their boots are made by craftspeople who use their hands in creating every aspect of the boot. They are multi-generational artisan boot makers who have spent years perfecting their craft. Their boots are their legacy.
They use Goodyear welting, layered leather soles, and lemonwood pegs in the construction of their classic or soon-to-be classic designs. Their small-batch produced cowboy boots are magnificent.
This is the beginning of Alie, Steve, and Kimber's expedition to cross a newly acquired portion of the western apparel and accessory world. They look forward to continued discoveries and innovative ideas to come. They love what they are doing. They want you to share and experience this affection as well.
