A Boot Collector Feature
Tom Taylor
Before it was best known for belts and buckles, the Santa Fe shop of Tom and Jean Taylor put its name on custom boots.
The Story
Tom and Jean Taylor were traveling leatherworkers, silversmiths, and riders. Tom was known for his saddles. The couple sold their leather and silver work at trade shows around the country before opening a shop in Santa Fe, which still operates on East San Francisco Street, in the historic La Fonda hotel just off the Plaza. After Tom’s death, Jean ran the business and built it into a destination for handcrafted belts and buckles. She retired in 2010 and passed it to Kim and Philip Spiers, who run it today.
The Boots
The shop’s own history today centers on belts and buckles, but vintage pairs carry woven labels reading “Tom Taylor Custom Boots, Santa Fe,” and collectors sell them as Tom Taylor of Santa Fe custom boots. One surviving pair, from an estate of 1970s and ’80s clothing, pairs pink leather with pink-dyed snakeskin. We haven’t found who built the boots for the shop.
Labels & Markings
A marking from a pair in the TW Collection. Select a photo to see it full size.
Have a pair, a photo of the shop, or a family story? Help us fill in this page.
Pairs from smaller, custom, or long-closed makers rarely come up for sale, so this search may not find anything. It’s worth checking back now and then.