W&E; Today provides retailers and manufacturers with education and ideas that provoke innovation in the Western and English markets.
Issue link: http://wetoday.epubxp.com/i/267070
24 Western & English Today EARLY SPRING 2014 It's why a buyer can f nd boots paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix as part of Liberty Boot Company's "Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame" series. Or two price points for Gameday Boots' college- licensed cowboy boots and also Ugg-inspired, college-licensed cozies. Or moccasins with footbeds for extra support at Durango. Flexible boots with direct-attached outsoles at Rocky. Exclusive cut-leather looks in Justin's Bent Rail line. And … And … And … How about work boots? Anderson Bean has a modern, functional steel- toe boot. "It's not intended as a rig boot," marketing representative Steven Kahla says. "It's the man in the of ce, the oil and gas man, electricity man, who might have to head to a site and doesn't want to change his boots." Miller International spent the past year developing its new Cinch WRX line, combining Formula One racing technology with Cinch comfort (in the form of its Shock Continuation Technology) to introduce a waterproof, abrasive resistant work boot with a ceramic safety toe. "Steel toes can be cold or hot and heavy, and if the toe box is ever compromised, it can cut your toe of ," says Miller's Smith. "Ceramic is harder, tougher and can withstand more resistance. But if it is compromised, the ceramic just shatters. You just smash your toe. You don't lose it." Twisted X is developing a f re-retardant boot for oil f eld and factory workers. "Almost all companies are requiring this these days, and many Western stores have been buying clothes, which might be a khaki-type of work shirt, f re-retardant jeans," Twisted X owner Bob Frazier says. "I don't know too many outf ts that are requiring f re-retardant boots, but my gut tells me … I might be wrong, but I'm developing a cowboy work boot that's f re retardant." Since the United States currently has no specs for f re- GAMEDAY GAMEDAY DURANGO JUSTIN BENT RAIL ABOVE: Clockwise from upper left: Ladies' University of Texas boot with matching purse and men's University of Texas boot with matching iPad case by Gameday Boots; "Where's the Beef?" boots by Tin Haul,17-inch brown mule with embroidered leaves by Olathe Boots; Bent Rail Style No. BR352 by Justin Boots; the World Traveler Wellington by Durango Boots and the Manchester boot in tan by Bed | Stü. INSET: Legacy Collection Style No. MD2723 by Nocona Boots. TIN HAUL OLATHE BED|STÜ NOCONA 0314 Western Boots2.indd 24 2/21/14 11:49 AM