A beloved pair of cowboy boots is at the heart and soul of every cowboy. Or should we say at the heart and sole? For collectors of the Western wear staple, finding the perfect pair is of the utmost importance. After all, it's essential to a hard day's work on the ranch.
But past that, Western wear has transcended its rugged roots to become a celebrated style that blends practicality and tradition with current-day trends. And that's something Alex Drummond's favorite cowboy boot brand, Tecovas, knows all too well. "Building our brand by looking at the rich heritage of Western through a modern lens has set us apart from the beginning," says founder Paul Hedrick.
Whether you need boots made for withstanding work or need boots made for walking the city streets, the brand strives to make footwear for everyone. Hedrick continues, "At Tecovas, y’all means all... Our goal is for everyone—from generational ranchers to first-time boot buyers—to fall in love with our boots the moment they pull them on and go hard after the things they love and care about."
That legacy comes after the first pairs were sold out of the back of an SUV, a backstory worth knowing! So let's go back to the roots of the boots. Here's a look at the history behind the brand and how their boots are made. Plus, learn how to pick out your very own pair.
The History of Tecovas
Tecovas was born out of a love for cowboy boots—specifically, a born-in-Texas admiration held by Hedrick. After an unfulfilling experience while buying his own pair of boots, Hedrick took his professional passion and merged it with an understanding of boots that's only fitting of someone raised in Dallas. He "set out to build a Western brand that would take the magic of the West and serve it up through a modern, customer-first lens."
Hedrick wanted Tecovas "to be the most welcoming brand in all of Western and reduce some of the intimidating stigma that surrounds Western shopping (especially for first-time boot buyers)." To do that, Hedrick took a trip to Leon, Mexico, the boot-making capital of the Americas. He soon began development with his newfound partners and sold his first pairs were sold out of the back of his SUV. He went to farmers' markets and "even returned to his elementary school in Dallas for their Holiday Fair."
Eventually, "a little house in East Austin became Tecovas HQ," where a "small, but trailblazing team began to build the brand." Today, they still working with those trusted partners to design their now beloved boots—though they're miles away from the trunk that once acted as a makeshift storefront. You'll find them online, in retail outposts across 20 states, and they work with other trusted retailers. While boots are their bread and butter, you can also shop Western wear like jeans, button-downs, and T-shirts, plus accessories to complete any getup.
How Tecovas Boots Are Made
As is important with any pair of cowboy boots, every stitch on a Tecovas boot tells a story. "Each pair of Tecovas boots is crafted in over 200 handmade steps. It’s not the easiest or cheapest method, but we’re committed to classic construction techniques that stand the test of time. All of our boots are made by hand from premium materials using time-honored methods, namely Goodyear welt construction," says the team.
According to the team, "It starts with a sketch, which becomes a prototype that gets refined as many times as necessary to get it perfect." The brand leans into both quality comfort and simple, timeless designs that are as in style today as they will be 30 years from now. And not only will they still be in style, but they'll still be in excellent condition, too. This is thanks to "high standards for quality, comfort, fit and style."
Tecovas boots are made for walking the distance, each step with the promise of craftsmanship that translates to handsome comfort. There's a reason they've become the fastest-growing Western brand in the world: "By doing things our way, and growing with a laser focus on what customers truly want." The team adds, "We aren’t chasing Western clichés or any timely trends. Instead, everything we do is meant to honor the true spirit of the West."
How to Pick the Right Pair of Tecovas Boots
Ree Drummond once said, "Choosing the perfect pair of cowboy boots can rival rocket science in terms of level of difficulty." Well, Tecovas aims to do away with that difficulty. Since every pair offers lasting comfort with no break in period, all you have to do is decide on your specific style. Take it from them: "It’s really all about what style and leather speaks to you―you really can't go wrong and you should buy what you like!"
When picking your first pair, the Tecovas team notes it is "really going to be based first on the end use case of the boots, and then secondly on consumer preference." Non-exotic boots such as bovine or goat "will be less expensive and typically less dressy, so they are great for daily wear or casual settings." Then, you have exotic boots like ostrich, lizard, and crocodile which "will be more expensive and are typically considered more dressy, so they are great for semi-formal and formal occasions like business dinners and weddings."
Need a nudge in a specific direction? "Goat has become a fan favorite at Tecovas because of its versatility. It has that vintage patina look out of the box but can easily transition to a night out." Whether you're pulling your boots on before saddling up, hitting the town to two-step, or simply enjoy the fashion of the frontier, cowboy boots "show a love for Americana heritage and tradition."
Now, go find your favorite pair, then kick up your heels. From the first cut of leather to the final polish, these boots are made for it!
Shop Tecovas Boots
The Annie - Bone
The Abby - Olive
The Annie - Midnight
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
