For nearly 150 years, Justin Boots has set the standard for both cowboy boots and work boots. What began as an ambitious entrepreneur’s dream in a small barbershop has grown to become one of the world’s leading Western wear brands.
Humble Beginnings
H.J. Justin
At the young age of 18, H.J. Justin left his Indiana hometown for the Texas frontier with a dream of becoming a bootmaker. In 1879, he settled in Fort Spanish, Texas, a town conveniently located on the famous Chisholm Trail. The route was used by cattlemen driving their herds from southern Texas to the rail stops in Kansas. Week after week, hundreds of cowboys came through town with boots that were far less than ideal for their demanding work on the range. Seizing a clear opportunity, H.J. began a small boot repair business out of a local barbershop.
The boot repair business thrived, but H.J. wanted to become a bootmaker. He just lacked the needed capital to launch his venture. As fortune would have it, the very barber who allowed H.J. to work out of his shop, Frank See, gave H.J. a loan of $35 to start the business. No surprise, Frank See also received the first pair of Justin Boots.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship
Despite his humble beginnings, H.J. was driven, and he continued to expand the business. His gift for creativity led H.J. to experiment with dozens of decorative visual techniques in styling his boots – intricate stitching, hand tooling, colorful leathers, and more. Although H.J. had a passion for visually improving his boot designs, always at the forefront was his commitment to making top-quality boots for the hardworking cowboys driving cattle on the range, so durability and comfort were paramount for all Justin boots. In fact, H.J. is credited with inventing the technique of sewing rows of stitches across boot tops to prevent them from wearing and folding down.
As the business grew, H.J.’s wife, Annie, also joined him. She created a made-to-measure chart and order form for cowboys to take with them as they passed through Spanish Fort so they could mail in their orders. In 1908, H.J.’s sons joined the business, eventually taking on full ownership of the business upon H.J.’s passing in 1918. Their commitment to the success and development of Justin Boots inspired the boys to pursue innovative manufacturing techniques that allowed the business to improve quality and expand production each year. And the brand remained family-owned for 120+ years.
Since the early days of Justin Boots, quality has always been at the forefront. To this day, Justin crafts quality American-made cowboy boots and work boots using premium materials, the finest leathers, and the highest quality manufacturing techniques. H.J. Justin would be proud.
