American Tradition Since 1932

From leather hides to the intricate stitches that bind them together, boot manufacturing is one of the last great American arts that is still deeply rooted in American tradition. 

Crafted in Portland Oregon,  Danner boots are a mark of unsacrificing quality. It’s been that way since 1932, the year Charles Danner decided to open his boot making business in the midst of the Great Depression and risk his future on a stubborn belief that - regardless of the economy - superior craftsmanship matters.

The Pacific Northwest was the ultimate proving ground for Danner boots, and Danner boot makers.
From the earliest days, they have only used the best materials and only the most skilled craftsmen. In the decades that followed, Danner became the favorite of tradespeople and outdoorsmen who understood that a well-made boot, though more costly, would outperform and outlast several pairs of inexpensive ones.

Within just a few years, Danner boots gained a reputation for enduring the ruggedness of the Pacific Northwest, and in the process earned the respect of a generation.
Today, Danner quality remains legendary because Danner standards remain high.
It’s easy to talk about higher standards, but it’s incredibly difficult to live up to them.
Since 1932, that’s exactly what they've been doing.

The Son of the South - Billy Reid

Over the last couple of month I have become a big fan of Southern Style and especially the designs of Billy Reid.  I discovered upon moving to Houston, that it is one of six locations in the country that has a stand-alone Billy Reid store.

William “Billy” Reid grew up Amite, Louisiana, just south of the Mississippi line, where, in his grandmother’s onetime home, his mother operated a women’s clothing boutique. The shop would later influence his interest and pursuits in design.

Reid’s first foray into the world of designer fashion came in 1998 with the launch of William Reid. The brand went on hiatus in 2001 until the Spring of 2004 when Reid re-launched under the name Billy Reid by way of a new business model: to build a designer brand around his authentic lifestyle and establish retail shops that reflect his upbringing, his personality, his aesthetic.

The brand employs fine artisians from mainly Italy and the USA to produce high quality wardrobe staples that will stay in fashion throughout the seasons.  While the products sold by the brand are certainly not cheap, the quality is unparreled and if you get a chance to visit one of the stores, the service is excellent.  They even offer free burbon, neat if you prefer.

It is probably one of the first clothing stores that I have ever been in that I could truly say that I would take one of each.  Unfortunately my budget does not allow for that, but it certainly will be a place that I will visit as the seasons change to add a couple of key staples to my wardrobe.