Many of those who work for Republic Boot Company in Houston say they were brought there by a “divine calling”. Founder Chris Conrad is no different from those he employs. His divine calling, coming in 2011, was to “Save Texas”. Republic Boot Company was that answer. With his divine calling in hand, Conrad embarked on a journey that would create handcrafted boots that enhanced Texas’ cultural heritage. Conrad had witnessed firsthand the craftsmen of Japan and Italy weaving their work with history and culture, creating not just a product, but an experience. Chris liquidated his savings to open a small shop in Houston and Republic Boot Company was born.
Located on 11th Street in Houston’s Heights neighborhood, Conrad planted his new venture in his own history; his family having settled there in the late 1800s, the shop pays homage to those roots. While he sought out the finest local craftsmen, others found him, like Master Bootmaker Raul Cerillo, who also had a vision…to work with Conrad. His heritage is deep: Cerillo is a third-generation master bootmaker, learning the craft in Leon, Mexico, a location famous for its leather working. Cerrillo has crafted boots for the likes of Roy Rogers, Steve McQueen, President George H. W. Bush, and John Wayne—you can find the Duke wearing Cerillo’s artwork in Rio Lobo; and his list continues to grow. However, it isn’t just Cerillo’s work that brings together the high quality items on the shelves. An entire team brings together the final products; whether they are custom-made or stock boots
Left Boot craftsman working on the sole of a customer’s boot. Right Lance Berkman, former infielder, outfield, and designated hitter for the Rice Owls major league teams including the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers player, and former Houston Christian Huskies coach, shows his custom-made boots featuring an armadillo design. | Photos Courtesy Republic Boot Company
When Republic Boot Company entered the boot industry, there were two standards – ready-made (those big bootmakers like Lucchese or Tony Lama), and custom-made (a handful of individuals whose artwork and craftsmanship are spectacular but whose process limits the customers they can process and come with long lead times). Republic Boot Company blends the two, a unique approach in the boot making industry. Throughout the store you’ll find a variety of Texas-based artwork on the boots such as oil derricks, the city skyline, ranches, along with colleges and professional sports teams.
Custom boots, which can easily run thousands of dollars and can be crafted out of materials from cowhide to king cobra, are a finely crafted product from start to finish. High-end material is sourced from select tanners, the stitchwork is meticulous, the toe boxes, tops, and lasting are done by hand; the fit and care taken is meticulous from top to bottom. Customers for these personalized footwear have included professional athletes, politicians, actors, and musicians; helped along with the work being featured during the Super Bowl, on the Late Late Show with James Corden, on Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown among others
Republic’s Master Bootmakers construct their ready-made boots for men and women in the same style as their custom boots, albeit in a more standard range of styles and fit; working with their team in Leon to keep the quality of the boots high but manage to keep prices low. Known as “The 1836 Collection”, the names of the various styles of stock boots are steeped in Texas history. Historic figures such as Crockett, Bowie, Jane Long, and Lady Bird stand next to Texas landmarks such as Devil’s Backbone, Enchanted Rock, and Palo Duro.
Chris Conrad’s Republic team likes to pride themselves on creating an experience, not just a purchase. They aim for that experience to be entertaining, informative, and “authentic Texan,” which they describe as being similar to being in a museum, a saloon, an engineering class, and a John Wayne movie all at the same time. Blending together the ready-made boot collection with bespoke boots, Republic Boot Company not only can outfit you from head to toe, it keeps the history and heritage of Texas alive while doing so.
