Western & English Today

EARLYSPR 2014

W&E; Today provides retailers and manufacturers with education and ideas that provoke innovation in the Western and English markets.

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28 Western & English Today EARLY SPRING 2014 "It's hard to f nd mature quill ostrich," Twisted X's Frazier says, "or large enough caimans. Most everybody these days are doing three-piece vamps on caiman." But that can help pricing, says Aurelio Avilia, sales executive for Los Altos Boots, which is seeing success with its caiman and ostrich. "Using a dif erent part for the vamp keeps the prices down," Avilia says. T ere's another reason, too, and that's to protect the boot. "We utilize the whole skin," Vastine says. "Smooth ostrich on the vamp and full quill on the toe. You let the pant rest on the vamp, and that keeps the quill in pretty decent shape." But whether you're selling full quill ostrich, cowhide or even "faux" leather, Kahla says retailers should keep one thing in mind when stocking boots for the core customers. "Boots are not just simple fashion statements. It's the f rst piece of working tack that you put on." Which brings us to fashion. Ladies fashion. Which has been hot for several years. Is it changing, even slowing down? T at depends on whom you ask. "It feels to me like business is beginning to settle a tad," Frazier says. "T e fashion, bling-bling thing was pretty popular, but working some events, even in traditional women's boots, what I've seen selling had conservative coloring and not a lot of bling." "We see some direction other than Western, that English kind of Western, the, for lack of a better word, Frye-look coming along strong," Dan Post's Hensley says. "Bling boots seem to have toned down." Nope, Corral's Welch says. "It's still about studs and bling and stones and color." Smoky Mountain Boots CEO Bob T orp agrees. "Bling is the thing they like, and that hasn't gone away for girls." Which again proves that there is a boot for everybody. "T at's exactly right," Welch says. "Right now, the toned-down boot is heading into the more equestrian look, but the short boot is working well right now, both in Western style and the more urban look." "T e Western fashion boot is not going away," Ferrini's Claver says. "It's just looking for a fresher look." GYPSY SOULE JOHNNY RINGO BOULET SMOKY MOUNTAIN ARIAT TWISTED X ABOVE: Ladies' boots clockwise from upper left: Embroidered over-the-knee Style No. S806-9B by Johnny Ringo Boots; Luna star-studded snip-toe boot by Ariat; K-Toe All-Around Boot in dusty tan with pink top by Twisted X Boots; Pendleton boot Style No. 3644 by Boulet Boots; Style No. M3846 by Lucchese; brown leather zip boot with stars by Smoky Mountain Boots and the Bling Biker in seafoam green calfskin with sterling silver skulls by Liberty Boot Co. INSET: Flip-f ops by Gypsy Soule. LIBERT Y LUCCHESE 0314 Western Boots2.indd 28 2/21/14 11:50 AM

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