A Boot Collector Feature

Champion Boots

Jose Luis Sanchez carried a family bootmaking heritage from León, Mexico into an El Paso shop that built boots for Glen Campbell and the Statler Brothers.

BootmakerJose Luis Sanchez
Based inEl Paso, Texas
Family rootsLeón, Mexico
SourceTexas Monthly feature

The Story

Champion Boots operated out of South Cotton Street in El Paso, run by Jose Luis Sanchez, 62 at the time of a Texas Monthly feature on the state's bootmakers, who carried a family bootmaking heritage back to León, Mexico — one of the trade's major manufacturing hubs. The shop built its reputation on sturdy, working-cowboy construction rather than showpiece styling.

What They're Known For

Real boots for working cowboys, built with double leather soles for durability. The shop's clientele reached beyond El Paso's ranching community to a couple of notable names — Glen Campbell and the Statler Brothers both wore the shop's boots. At the time of the Texas Monthly feature, pairs started around $250 with a 45-day turnaround, among the faster and more affordable of the shops the magazine surveyed.

Labels & Markings

Markings from pairs in the TW Collection. Select a photo to see it full size.

Champion Boots El Paso TX label
“Champion Boots, El Paso, Tx.” printed on a cloth label stitched to the lining.
Champion Boots and Co exotic leather Made in Mexico label
A “Champion Boots & Co.” label with an ostrich, “Exotic Leather” and “Made in Mexico.” We haven’t confirmed whether this is the same business as the El Paso shop.
Champion Attitude Boots label
A “Champion Attitude Boots” label from the El Paso shop, with handwritten order numbers on the lining.

An El Paso shop built on a León bootmaking heritage.

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