We were lucky to catch up with Holly Henry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Holly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I started my bespoke cowboy boot making business a year ago and it is currently my full time job. But it has been a journey to get to where I am now. I first became interested in making footwear when I took a footwear design course in college, at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). I immediately felt drawn to the craft, and knew i would do whatever I had to in order to make this unique craft my career. I enjoyed working with my hands, and never wanted to sacrifice that to work for an established brand, or strictly as a designer. I took the shoemaking course twice, and graduated in 2017. Since then, I have held three apprenticeships to continue learning the craft of bespoke bootmaking, and honing my leathercraft skills. In total, I spent 7 years as an apprentice under three different mentors, learning something different from each, including tailoring and patternmaking, sewing, cowboy boot design and making, and leather repair for boots, saddles, etc. I am proud that I took this longer route and didn’t just jump right into opening my own shop. Bootmaking is such an intricate and historied craft with a strong oral tradition, and I am grateful that I was able to learn from different people and create a well rounded foundation for myself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The cowboy bootmaker community is small but close, and the more folks I met along the way, and the more encouragement I got from my peers, I felt that I actually could have a future as a craftswoman. I took the long way of apprenticing under different mentors to learn as much about my craft as possible. To be the best bootmaker possible, one must gain an understanding of leather as a material, which behaves differently from any kind of fabric or man made material, and even has different properties within itself, such as the thickness of the leather, where on the hide it is cut from, and what kind of animal skin you are working with. One must learn how to interpret the measurements of a foot- a soft, dynamic form- and translate it onto a last, or mold, that the boot will be built on, which is static and made of resin or wood. The fit of the boot is the most important aspect of all to me- it can be lifechanging to wear cheap, mass made footwear all your life and suffer from uncomfortable feet, and then finally step into a pair of boots that fit you perfectly and offer support and comfort.
I build boots that can be repaired again and again, built to last a lifetime. It is rare to find a company that stands behind their product in today’s world, where the objective is typically getting a consumer to spend money and buy new items as frequently as possible. Even though it may not be the most profitable business model, I am proud to stick to these ethics and offer the best, most sustainable product that I can.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Simply giving value to art, and investing in it is the best way to support creatives. Rather than spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in one year on cheaply made, disposable clothing and footwear, choose to invest in a high quality piece made by an artisan. These items typically last longer, are less trendy and more timeless in design and style, and keep less waste out of our landfills and oceans.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Making the highest quality product possible that will look good, last a long time, and become a form of personal expression for the wearer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hollyhenrycustomboots.com
• Instagram: @hollyhenry_custom

Image Credits

All photos by Holly Henry