BOOTSH anWdmadIe iTn THexas , UASA SOUL “THOSE WHO LOVE THEIR AB LIVE LIFE THE SAME WAY WE MAKE OUR BOOTS: ROOTED IN TRADITION AND STYLE. THEY RIDE, WORK, TAILGATE, TWO-STEP, COMPETE AND DO EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN IN THESE BOOTS.”

BY SIMONA DIALE

nderson Bean was created in medium price range. Their women, kids and babies. Boots for 1987 by the own ers of Rios independent label has grown for a full lifestyle, and boots built Aof Mercedes boots in order almost 30 years to include one-of- upon the knowledge and expertise to offer a high quality, all- a-kind custom boots, plus a full of over 150 years of exceptional that would fall in the line of stock boots for men, boot making. FROM OUR CORPORATE PARNERS e l

Trainor Evans and Ryan Vaughan a i D

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made on themselves and they were y h p a r

either broke or sold out. We had g o t o

saved every nickel that we’d ever h P

made and when things started to © come apart, we had the money to pay inventory. We did it because we were careful, not because we were brilliant, and we had that advantage. This is not “I come f rom six generations of an easy business. It takes a lot of cash cattle ranchers,” says Evans, co- and foresight and you need to spend owner of Anderson Bean and Rios less than what you make. When we of Mercedes. “I was raised in West started AB, we wanted to make a boot Texas and Eastern . I that stood out beyond its piers. A lot graduated from school and had a of companies were moving overseas chance to get into the boot and we thought we could busin ess in 1973. My make a Made in Texas Anderson Bean Philosophy step dad was running boot for a cowboy that Boots that last a lifetime need the care Rios of Mercedes and we would be able to use it – and precision that can only be done the started in New Mexico doing and have it repaired if old-fashioned way – by hand. Anderson the fancy stitch on the top of needed. We also got into the Bean’s approach to boots is simple and the boots. By 1975 we were business by offering private this is their motto: “We value the doing so well we were able to labels; for example, we went to tradition of Texas bootmaking, and we buy Rios of Mercedes and we kept Teners, in OKC, and told them build our boots honestly – without any on building the company all through that we’d put their label on the boots shortcuts or factory tricks.” Every Anderson Bean boot is built by the 70s. In the 80s we realized that the and they jumped all over it. Pretty hand — “the right way,” as the company Rios of Mercedes-end of the market soon Anderson Bean had a label. likes to think of it. All boots are in leather was not very big — it was top-end — “One of the things that really got us for the best in comfort and style, as the and if we wanted to continue to grow, going, 13 years ago, was NRHA who Texas based company is committed to we had to do something else. We started endorsing us and we started making a great-fitting boot. There are a know quality and we know how to promoting our product through the couple of non-leather components such make boots — our way — and that is association. The people that know as a steel shank for arch support and wooden pegs in the arch area. These are the reason that we take young kids good boots spend most of their time tried and true methods which aid arch and teach them. There is a certain in the saddle, with their boots in the support and hold the boot together. look in our boots that you will not see stirrup. It turned into a really good Anderson Bean holds strong to their in any other boot.” deal for us; it was a good fit, and a tradition of quality with great attention Evans says that when they decided good partnership.” to detail – from the inside structure to to go into the AB business, In 2000, Ryan Vaughan, Evan’s son- the outside style – on every boot. they knew that they in-law, came in the business. “It’s the Contrary to what other boot companies today seem to think, according to AB, could make a better best thing that ever happened to me,” that what you can't see does matter. boot than the rest of the said Evan. “Ryan took the business to That's why they are one of the last bootmakers in that new levels. He put together a good bootmakers to use channeled welt specific market. “In 1988 marketing and production team that construction, which recesses the we started when the boot re ally is way above anything that I stitching into a groove in the leather business was having a bad had ever figured. We’ve been insole, resulting in a distinctive low shake up,” he said. blessed to have been put out there profile. Anderson Bean boots are handcrafted in “Cowboy boots got to be in front of the crowd and have been Mercedes, Texas, USA in the Rio Grande very popular and a lot of very well treated in the market.” Valley. With quality USA-made products bootmakers were Evans has been married to his being few and far between these days, spending every wife, Karen, for the last 40 years and their pride is Texas-sized because they dime that they have two children; Jody — who are one of the few boot companies that they had is married to Ryan — and Clayton, build boots by hand, all by themselves! FROM OUR CORPORATE PARNERS

“At our factory in Mercedes, each skilled craftsman has a RECRAFTING YOUR ‘OLD’ BOOTS unique role in the process, just as each AB boot design has BOOTS WEAR OUT, BUT YOU its own unique style and vibe. It takes many hands to make DON’T WANT TO THROW THEM OUT! a pair of boots at Anderson Bean. But it's not just that our Do you love your Anderson Bean boots are handmade – it's about the hands that make boots and want them restored? It can be done! Simply visit them. We get that, which is why we have such a strong www.andersonbean.com/recrafting family vibe within our company.”

Insoles and relasting: Complete recrafting including new insoles and outsoles, heels, welts, spring steel 160 years of experience shows that shanks, and leather reconditioning. people come first. Our team is a family, This option applies if you have worn a and families stick together over time. hole through the sole of the boot. Soles and heels recraft: Complete recrafting including new outsoles, leather heel. Then, to ensure the boot heels, welts, spring steel shanks, and will hold up to riding in the stirrup, a leather reconditioning. steel shank is added to support the Add crepe to leather sole: New crepe arch. The boot’s heel is built with a outsoles and heels (original welts and longer base so that the base will hit the midsoles will remain). Leather must be edge of the stirrup before the rider’s in like-new or good condition. Or, instep runs into the stirrup, ensuring request new heel bases, rubber heel the foo t does not through. The caps, pulls, boot stretching, etc. heel sticks out behind the back of the boot, featuring what is referred who is involved in the sof tware part where I thrived. It was fun, I wanted to to as a ‘ ledge’ where a rider’s of the business. be productive, and I was fortunate to spur can rest. This aids in keeping “One of the things that I have learnt collaborate with a great group of from sliding down the heel from Trainor is that there are a lot of workers who embraced me and taught when cueing the . On the intricacies involved with boot making,” me how production worked. We want opposite end of the boot is the toe, said Vaughan. “I wasn’t raised on a to be able to say that we are the best in which fashion dictates be square in but was exposed to showing that market and what we do is today’s horse industry. cattle in high school. We raised heifers, extremely hard and challenging but we A military-type synthetic box toe is and I went through ag school and that’s are creating, building and employing. used so that if the horse steps on the where I met my future wife, Jody, who Building the very best boot we can at a rider’s toe, you can reach in and bump I’ve been married to for the past 18 specific price point is what my the toe back out and it won’t damage years. I joined Anderson Bean in 1999 challenge was, and is. Identifying a the boot. Most boots are made with a and jumped straight into the business solid niche is one of our objectives and solid box toe that can crush. and, after spending a year in the reining world is a huge niche for “Our goal is to have a boot that can understanding the process, Trainor Anderson Bean.” go back to work,” says Evans. To top told me ‘lay the production line out.’ I How are AB boots made? off the foot, Anderson Bean sews on a didn’t really know what I needed to do Anderson Bean Boots are hand- double vamp, adding thickness to pad but Trainor’s management technique is lasted with a leather insole and a a rider’s foot from the spur strapped

Attention to detail is important. With these traditional types of soles, lemon wood pegs are used to secure the spring steel shank in place in the arch of the foot for support. This process is more than tradition, it is pure functionality, and Anderson Bean craftsmen have been using it for over 150 years. The pegs will actually expand and contract with the leather as it changes temperature and mois - ture content so that they do not fall out or rust like a nail.

across the arch. This also helps keep far the best you can put on a cowboy the spur strap from excessively boot, but we found that when you wearing the vamp. For safety, the repeatedly get your boots wet washing THE BUILD: throat, or area where the foot slides and cleaning stalls, the sole into the boot, is soft enough to allow gives up the tannins you put into it. 1. LEAThER SIdE WELT & pIpING a rider to slide out if hung up. All of The leather soles did not last as long • prevents chaffing and cracking this is put together with stitching and or wear as well. Based on that 2. SOLE LEAThER hEEL COUNTER wooden pegs, thus ensuring no nails feedback, we started working with • stabilizes the wearer’s heel can tear or break through reiners to come up with some new • enhances fit leather. soles,” said Evans. “The style that • helps prevent run-over Evans said that while the company’s most NRHA members is a hybrid 3. SpRING STEEL ShANk tried and true method of pegging and sole. The traditional leather sole is in (held in place with lemonwood pegs) sealing soles works for most riders, place, b ut natural rubber covers the • gives maximum arch support for walking those working in and out of the fine- ball of the toe and heel. This small or riding grain footing in reining arenas tweak enhanced the already popular 4. GENUINE BARk-TANNEd LEAThER INSOLE brought a small problem to his product and ensured those • maximizes removal of moisture created attention. “We found that the fine purchasing Anderson Bean’s got by the foot arena dirt was getting between the their money’s worth. • creates a natural foot bed arch and the sole in that area where “The professionals are the style 5. GENUINE BARk-TANNEd LEAThER OUTSOLE the wooden sole pegs are located,” he setters; they want a c areful, specific • wears long without excess weight says. “Number one, we started going look, and they give us clear guidance,” to a full welt with the boots, changed Evans says. “Our retailers will do a 6. LEAThER SOLE WELT some glues and adhesives, and small run of boots, six or eight pairs, (sewn into a channel in the insole) • creates a low profile boot which learned a lot from dealing with a and when they see people like it, has no fillers group of people that was rough on make a second order with maybe a • easily repairable our product. Instead of complaining new width for new customers. 7. dOUBLE hANd LASTEd VAMp about the customer, we worked Typically, it is reiners that are buying • retains its shape together to create a boot that stood up the new boots and weighing in on • prevents excessive stretching to the daily wear and tear of a reiner.” colors. In addition to being a great NRHA membership was also platform to show the wear 8. pREMIUM COWhIdE LINING IN VAMp ANd TOp instrumental in the company people our product, the association is • enhances wear developing new sole styles that did a good testing and proving ground for • enhances comfort not wear quickly. “A leather sole is by new style s.” F • moisture removal