A Pivotal Moment in Western Apparel History

Friday, November 29, 2013

The invention of cowboy boots was, without a doubt, an historical event in the history of western apparel. It was a landmark event considered only to be surpassed in importance by the invention of the horseback riding saddle. The event took place in Spanish Fort, Texas in 1878. A man named H. J. Justin had shown up in Spanish Fort that year, fresh from his home in Indiana, looking for a new opportunity as a bootmaker. Justin had a roll of boot leather under his arm and two bits in his pocket. Luckily for him, one of his very first customers was a cowboy who had some new ideas about footwear for cowboys that would be suitable for the perils that the range often presented. That day, the talks between the cowboy and the bootmaker marked a new era that would forever change western wear.
You see, cowboy boots were not always like they are today - or even like they were always portrayed in the movies. No, cowboy boots had to evolve in order to reach that point. The first cowboy boots weren't even cowboy boots; in fact, the cowboy had to wear whatever kind of footwear was readily available. Before the appearance of cowboy boots on the western apparel front, southern planter and calvary styles were among the most popular shoes worn by cowboys. From the moccasins of the Native Americans to the boots of the sophisticated eastern gentleman - all types of footwear were worn by the working cowboy throughout his daily persuits. Somewhere along the way, it become obvious that a change was needed to accommodate the safety and comfort of the cowboy. The young cowboy who walked into H.J. Justin's shop was one of the first to take action, and what ensued was a veritable revolution in footwear.
Those who saw the new approach to cowboy footwear soon discovered that the new cowboy boots were perfect for the kind of work cowboys did, making Justin's style the leader in the world of cowboy boots. Word of the new design spread to bootmakers and cowboys all over the American West, and before you knew it, the product that was soon being supplied in response to growing demand had a steel-shank arch, a slender toe, and a uniquely-shaped heel that ensured the security of the foot when braced against the stirrup. These were evolutionary features which changed the way everyone viewed western wear, cowboy boots, and the work of the cowboy forever.
While the American cowboy boot has not been subject to so much change over the decades as the cowboy hat (and that is another story for another day), it has experienced some minor variations throughout its course, mostly having to do with new designs catering to the fashion aesthetic. The basic style and structure of cowboy boots, however, has remained the same. Some consider cowboy boots to be the keystone of western apparel, and it's no wonder - they are important both in function and fashion.
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