Rider Boot Company

July Update

Ron — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:22:12 +0000

Greetings again, and apologies for the lack of updates over the last month. Between traveling, trying to organize material deliveries, sole production, more travel and more trying to organize component production/deliveries – not to mention some financial issues that have arisen from certain corners of the country that have greatly effected leather purchasing and production schedules – I am a bit behind in long posting here. Forgive me.

What is happening in the factories? Well, they are slogging along, basically. It’s hard to make boots without leather and soles, and we have faced shortages and delays (along with just about everyone else from my side of the fence this season) in both this season. After a long wait, the Walnut shells arrived in Milan from Horween early June and went immediately into work. I had hoped to have the pending orders for JGilbert Footwear out of production and in transit first or second week of July. BUT, most of those orders were detailed with a custom ’Commando’ style sole that I developed with a sole manufacturer in Parabiago. Unfortunately, those soles were delivered late, and then the quality was not anywhere near what I want to use on my boots. I have since instructed the factory to use the classic Lug Sole from Vibram that I have used for years – it works and that’s what I need for my quality level. I tried to satisfy a new itch, but am returning to what works and is dependable. To develop new soles takes too long, costs too much money, and the results are not known until too late – I’m sticking with Vibram for my heavy duty outsole needs. Lesson learned. As of last nights work with the factory, I am hoping for all Walnut Shell Cordovan orders (both specials and stock runs) to be shipping in my August 8 shipment just before the factory closes down for Holiday. Also, a couple pair of the Gunmetal specials should be ready by then. I will know more and advise all at that time.

————note: we received TOO much Walnut shell from Horween ( and, yeah, they make me pay for it), so there is enough on-hand to make another 14 pair or so for Winter, so don’t be shy – give Yenni a call at the shop in Seattle.

For Gunmetal….it arrived! Friday. And just enough to fill all open orders. At this point I don’t expect to see these boots start to get packed up until mid-September, at the earliest. I will be in the factory at that time and will be helping in finishing and packing and any issues will have been noted before then.

I had a talk with Skip Horween this week, and it really does need to be said that they need a good 6-8 months to do shell orders – especially custom colors such as this. They won’t rush the process, and they shouldn’t. I get a little stessed out……but that’s my problem. Good things take time and we all just have to wait it out. Or buy ready-made.

Speaking of ready-made…..stay tuned for a good series of posts regarding the new STOCK Goodyear Flex boots coming out of Calz. Borgioli for Rider Boot. First small deliveries are here and getting ready to go. We debuted these boots at Leffot this Spring and the reaction was fantastic. Stay tuned please.

I am also getting ready to ship an exclusive colorway (pictured a stock colorway….they will show off their version) of the Ottowa Hiker to Need Supply here in Richmond, which they will be putting up for pre-orders soon enough. Looks real good.

The F/W shipments to Japan are getting ready to go as well, with the Ottowa being the #1 boot heading in that direction for next season. Strasburgo will have more information on which shops are getting those.

That’s about all for the moment……right around the corner will be new boots, new constructions and new details; ready-to-buy.

Thanks-

Ron

7-June Update….Walnut Shell Cordovan in works -

Ron — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:32:16 +0000

Update time from Milan…..for JGilbert Footwear’s orders, we have received the Walnut Shell Cordovan from Horween and all orders have entered into production. Some are already on the lasts, while others are awaiting lasts to free up. We are going to try to get the stock orders mixed in with the specials and start shipping in around 2-3 weeks. As the leather just recently arrived, and we have alot of boots to make on the same lasts at the same time, we are doing our best to manage it and the first deliveries will be a little random. As far as the Gunmetal Shell Cordovan orders are concerned, we received only a small amount in this shipment and have put what we can into work also. There is some confusion between Horween Chicago and Horween’s Milan warehouse regarding what was made for me, as Italy claimed 1/8th of what Chicago shipped was actually received. Nick Horween has graciously jumped in to figure out what may have happened, and has put more Gunmetal into tanning right away in the event they cannot find the missing shells. If the warehouse does, there will be some extra Gunmetal around! In the meantime, we can only make so many boots at one time and the Walnut is occupying all that time right now, so a couple of weeks will not effect delivery. We will work, as always, as fast as possible but I will not instruct anything to be rushed. Shell Cordovan takes time to last properly and we will put boots into finishing only at the correct time to deliver the quality I expect.

Cheers -

Ron

April 27 Update….JGilbert Footwear Orders

Ron — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:19:30 +0000

Update from the trenches……we are patiently awaiting the release of the Gunmetal and Walnut Shells from Horween Leather so we can start production on the MTO’s and Stock boots for JGilbert Footwear in Seattle. In addition to the many special orders already placed, we have on the sked:

Re-issue of the Wingtip Boot in Walnut Shell

Plaintoe Boot on a new last in Gunmetal Shell

Captoe 8-eyelet Boot in Walnut Shell

Wingtip Boot in Black Calfskin (shipping soon….May delivery)

Captoe 7-eyelet Boot w/Medallion in Gunmetal Shell

A nice menu, and as soon as we get the shells we go into production. Everything else ready to go…..the waiting is the hardest part, right? I’ll keep all posted here as soon as I get the heads up from Horween that the shells have shipped and I can update specific delivery times.

Thanks to all for your patience!

Ron

Borgioli X Rider Boot

Ron — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:24:28 +0000

Specs coming up……

Goodyear – Interamente Fatte a Mano

Ron — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:28:28 +0000

First off, please forgive the absence around here lately…been mostly underground working on the Fall Collection and trying to keep up (thanks to all!) with Spring orders. A huge project for me has been expanding Rider Boot into some additional constructions and options. Some of my long-time clients may remember the work I did with Borgioli years ago at Franco’s, and I have always felt that the patterns I did with them on Treccia (most here would call it Norvegese construction) Construction were some of the best shoes I’ve ever done. Well, during my trip to Italy last month I took a train down to La Stella (Tuscany) to catch up with my friends at the factory. It didn’t take long for us to get on the same page and plan out some joint work for Rider Boot. A few different things on the agenda that I will work thru during the next couple of months, but first up I went back to the well and did my favorite construction in a Shell Cordovan Chukka boot:

True Treccia Construction involves a tremendous amount of work, time, skill and, by default, top quality materials. The special feature here, obviously, is the three thread interwoven stitch you can see above the weltline on the upper. This is visually interesting, for sure….but the real magic is what you cannot see – the connection between the leather insole and the upper (in this case shell cordovan from Horween in Chicago) done in one graceful, and complicated, step. Further, you will notice the upper is ‘turned out’, or what we call Norvegese, and stitched down with a seperate stitch thru the welt/sole combination. I expect to be back at the factory in the next couple of weeks and will try to post a more detailed essay (with pictures) on this work from start to finish, but in the meantime……the Treccia Chukka:

Cheers -

Ron

note - I will be debuting this sample, and the entire Borgioli for Rider Boot planned range, at the May Trunk Show with Leffot in NYC. This item will be available as a MTO style where different materials, colors, thread, sole finishing, etc. can be chosen individually. Prices are far from being finalized at this moment, but the shell cordovan sample pictured here will be right around $2200.00.

RBCB4 in Black Inca Grain Calf….

Ron — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:02:24 +0000

….heading to Leffot. Today.

This chukka is one of my favorites. Built on the great fitting 95 last and featuring a storm welt and Sestriere soles and heels, this classic chukka will take you anywhere – and for a long time.

Ron

RBCB1 in Gunmetal Shell Cordovan

Ron — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:27:19 +0000

Should be hitting Pelle Line in Paramus, NJ this afternoon. The first chukka done in this great, and rare, color was the RBCB3, and it is virtually sold out. Only 6 pair were made of the original chukka boot pictured here, so don’t wait on this one! Hamed or Soodie can help you at the shop…..

Ron

Nice Ad -

Ron — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:45:24 +0000

A big thanks to John Gilbert and his crew at JGilbertFootwear for this great ad/mailer:

They are rolling along in the Seattle location with the boots shown, and I understand are just about sold out. I’m on my way to Italy to work in the factory now with re-orders in hand…stay tuned for more coming soon.

Ron

RBPB2 in Reverso Hits Leffot -

Ron — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:23:50 +0000

The Dark Brown Reverso RBPB2 has arrived at Leffot. Thanks again to Steven for his continued support of Rider Boot!

Cheers -

RBPB2 in Reverso Available Here -

Ron — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:48:24 +0000

Pictures just went up……

http://www.francos.com/items/item.asp?sku5=24077

Also, limited sizes of the Hobo Boot in Maracca are available on Franco’s site – hard to keep this boot in stock!

http://www.francos.com/items/item.asp?sku5=64189

Thanks -

Ron