A Boot Collector Feature

Code West

A 1980s spin-off built for a buyer who wanted the cowboy boot silhouette with none of the polish — distressed leather, worn-in looks, sold new.

Launched1980s
Parent brandDan Post (Genesco)
Signature lookDistressed, pre-worn leather finishes
Price range$100–$200+
A note on this brandCode West is a sub-brand of Dan Post rather than an independent company — it was created as part of the same 1980s expansion under Genesco that also brought Dingo and the Laredo brand under the Dan Post umbrella.

The Story

Dan Post had already been an established cowboy boot manufacturer since the 1960s when its parent company, Genesco, pushed the brand to diversify in the 1980s. Code West was one result of that push, launched specifically to chase a younger, more urban customer who wanted the look of a Western boot without the working-ranch association — alongside sibling brand Dingo, which followed a similar fashion-forward logic.

What They're Known For

Distressed leather finishes designed to look aged and worn right off the shelf, applied to both harness-style and traditional cowboy silhouettes, with some dressier options in sleeker finishes for buyers who wanted less of the rough-and-tumble look. The brand still turns up at major shoe retailers and Western apparel stores under Genesco ownership today.

Proof that even a classic bootmaker like Dan Post was willing to chase a very different customer when fashion called for it.

See Dan Post at danpostboots.com