!7# Cowboy Boots - A Brief History - From Being Practical to a Fashion Statement

!±8± Cowboy Boots - A Brief History - From Being Practical to a Fashion Statement

No one person invented cowboy boots

No one really knows the true history of how the cowboy boots was invented. There really wasn't one boot shoemaker that can claim credit for inventing the cowboy boot. The boots was born as a necessity.

Typical boots out grown their use in the West

There was a huge push for westward expansion after the Civil War. Many young Americans saw growth and opportunity to move out west. There were opportunities such as farming, gold mining, or some folks just wanted to get out the city to look for a new life. Population shifts to the west meant that their would be huge need for necessary supplies. People on the west needed clothes, food, and other goods which was easily available on the east. One such huge demand was a need for animals such as horses and cows. Herding these animals to their destinations required a unique individual. Thus the birth of cowboys came to be.

Shoemakers answered the Cowboy's needs

These cowboys quickly found out that they needed special boots during the long rides herding the animals. They needed boots that were square and pointy so they can easily place them into the stirrups. Boots needed to cover their legs below the knees to protect from snakes and getting kicked by the animals. The sole had to be thick enough to protect the feet from the rocky terrains. Heels had to be higher so you can comfortably place them in the stirrups without them slipping out.

Modern Day Cowboys

As you can see the cowboy boots came to be for a reason. Nowadays there isn't a demand for cowboys. Most of the cowboys are limited to professional rodeo members or just horse riding hobbyist. The cowboy boot has evolved more into a fashion statement. Many cowboy boot wearers want to outwardly show that they are fashionable to this day. Modern cowboy boots come in several different colors and styles. Intricate stitching and design differentiate all the different cowboy boot makers today.