A Boot Collector Feature
A Pittsburg, Texas bootmaker who starts work at 3 a.m. before teaching Ag Mechanics — and builds every pair on a custom last made for that customer alone.
Jarrett Van Curen got his start in bootmaking almost by accident, working at a local Western wear store in high school where cleaning and breaking down boots for repair gradually turned into sole stitching and other restoration work. He kept developing the craft through North Texas Community College and Texas A&M Commerce, funding part of his education by selling leather goods along the way. Today he runs Van Curen Leather out of a small shop connected to his garage in Pittsburg, Texas, often working from 3 a.m. before heading off to teach Ag Mechanics at Big Sandy High School.
Fully custom boots built around a last made specifically for each customer's foot, in materials ranging from kangaroo and ostrich to buffalo, alligator, and saltwater crocodile. Each pair takes at least 40 hours of work, more with intricate inlay, and Van Curen's own stitch pattern — the Van Curen Ribcage — drew praise in Texas Monthly for its clean, elegant lines. Bespoke pairs start around $1,700 and climb toward $10,000 in top exotics, with current wait times running six to nine months.
A hand-built last for every pair, made by a bootmaker who starts before sunrise.
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