Having personally worked on hundreds of pairs, here are a few of my favorites which I evolved from concept to finished product.
Neon Jackalope Desert
Neon, Metallic, Fringe, & Sparkle on top of some heavy duty vibram, only for the most fabulous Diva to ride on their matching motorcycle.
Inspiration, Design, Assembly Details
With a client as fabulous as "Diva Amy", the only rule is: there are no rules.
So when she wanted to add to a new pair to her Rocketbuster collection inspired by her spirit animal, we opted for her usual neon palette in an over-the-top design crafted with traditional cut-and-sewn techniques. Rather than using paint to achieve the vibrance, we doubled-up the longevity of this design with inlay/overlay leather—ready for the wear and tear caused by her matching motorcycle.
Charley Harper
The final product includes a rattlesnake that wraps down onto the foot and a saguaro cactus up the back of the boot that also doubles as a back closure.
Process photos of the Charley Harper project
Boots that are meant to honor someone's legacy is a precious and rewarding process.
The estate of the late Charlie Harper commissioned a pair of boots in celebration of his life. Having free range over of a plethora of beautiful illustrations done by this artist, and with the final form being a western cowboy boot, I opted for his works involving flora and fauna of the desert region. The end result was meant to tour museums and eventually be auctioned off to a lucky fan.
Botanical
Soft and delightfully tasty for the eyes, this boot was inspired by botanical illustrations.
Botanical Process photos
The reason for a custom boot varies.
Is it for the tailored fit? Is it for a vintage style they want for themselves? Or is it to have something 100% unique and never seen before?
The boot can take a very artful form, and The Botanical boot is exactly that. Inspired by scientific illustrations and paper art, this organic medley of fruits rendered in a soft palette turned out delightful for the eyes.
The Talavera Boot
THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL, FEATURING TILES THAT GO ONTO THE FOOT.
WARM & VIBRANT AMERICANA
While there are some clients with a very specific vision for their boots, a common scenario is "I WANT IT ALL!"....even when it means they all do not necessarily jibe together. Hence, the Talavera boot, its the "life story" boot or a pair of "all of my favorite things". Inspired by Talavera tiles, this boot design offered clients a customizable puzzle which allows us to present dozens of objects or stories into a clean meaningful mosaic, unified by a palette that is special to the client.
A cool color palette filled with a love for the world & its animals, finished with navy gator on the foot.