Culture

Texas Cowboy Boots: Material Culture Melting Pot

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Abstract

Texas cowboy boots are viewed as uniquely American and an icon of the Western pioneer spirit. However, the cowboy boot we know today is a product of cultures blending in the Southern United States and bringing their artisanal talents with them. For instance, Mexican boot companies existed in the seventeenth century, and one of the most iconic cowboy boot companies, Tony Lama, was started by Italian immigrants who settled in Texas. The aim of this research was to engage in historical record analysis and interviews with modern-day Texas cowboy bootmakers to piece together the story of Texas cowboy boots as a multicultural narrative. Interviews were conducted with nine (n=9) Texas cowboy bootmakers. Emergent themes related to multicultural, cultural transmission, and differences.

Keywords: boot, bootmaking, handicraft, Texas, cowboy, bootmaker

How to Cite:

Loranger, D. P. & Divita, L., (2022) “Texas Cowboy Boots: Material Culture Melting Pot”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15897