Today we’d like to introduce you to Graham Ebner.
Graham, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Depending on how you slice it, I’m a 6th or 7th generation Texan. I grew up outside of Houston and my dad had a couple of horses so I spent a lot of time riding and mucking stalls and such, always in a full cowboy get-up. I spent a lot of time with my Nana, who was (and is – at 98!) a prolific quilter, and learned to sew when I was very young (she takes full credit for all the boots I make, totally fair). I’d “help” her work on quilts and she’d teach me how to run the sewing machine. We’d make clothes, blankets, quilts, pillowcases etc – all the little things you make when you’re learning how to sew. I loved it – I’ve always been a hands-on, gotta see how the sausage is made kind of person. That hasn’t changed – but around 2016 I became interested in boot repair. I’ve worn and loved cowboy boots (and shoes in general) since eI could walk and had a few pair that needed some attention. I couldn’t find anyone to repair the ones that were in the roughest shape so I figured, hey I bet I can figure this out. I started teaching myself through the few internet resources that were available at the time. I thought I’d try to get the hang of it and if I enjoyed it enough then I’d try to find a mentor. I was working at Cafe Medici at the time, and also working with Matt Jackson of Jackson’s Choppers building motorcycles.
I managed to re-sole a couple pairs of my boots and really enjoyed the process so I employed a skill I’m particularly fond of – convincing people to teach me things, and went hunting for a little education. I found a local boot shop and stopped by to ask if they’d sell me some supplies. I hit it off with the owners and after some targeted pestering, they agreed to let me come in and learn a thing or two. I immediately fell in love with the craft and tradition of cowboy bootmaking – I had no idea it existed at this level. From the moment I walked into that shop I was hooked. It offered me the freedom to doodle and design, and then build something functional that needs to last decades on someone’s sweaty feet. Fascinating. I ended up working (for free) a few afternoons a week after my coffee gig, and did that for maybe 6 months. I picked things up quickly and eventually was hired on part-time, then full-time. I worked as a bootmaker with them for 4 years until I decided to leave and try my own hand at the whole thing.
Now I work by myself, I make very intricate boots that often take 6 weeks to complete. In a good year I’ll make 8 pairs. I occasionally open my books up for orders, take 6 – 12 new customers, and close the books. I don’t have a waiting list beyond those immediate orders. I like to take my time – I’m trying to make the finest cowboy boots you’ve ever seen and that typically takes a lot longer than I expect it to, but they sure look pretty.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being self-employed is great when it’s good but man, what a bummer when it’s bad. I started this journey as a craftsman, maybe an artist. I don’t have a business background. I can make a beautiful boot but unfortunately that’s a small part of this process. I’m learning how to run things on the back end and finally have a little outside help running the day-to-day operations. This lets me focus on the cutting and sewing – you know.. actually making boots. My work is getting better all the time, and now that the background mechanics are running a bit smoother I can focus on the next stage of growth for the shop.
For all the ups and downs I will say that I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my friends, family, and all my extended cowboy bootmaking family. The cowboy bootmaker community is, with some exceptions, kind and generous and focused on the preservation and perpetuation of our craft. If I get stuck I know that I can call any of them for help without hesitation. Being a bootmaker used to mean serving your immediate community and meeting a need for working cowboys. It’s still like that in some places, but now most of us have customers all over the world. There isn’t a sense of competition among us, we’re all trying to do good work and support our colleagues to do the same.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a cowboy bootmaker. I make really nice, really expensive cowboy boots. I suppose I’m known mostly for bringing a slightly modern design perspective to traditional cowboy bootmaking. I generally don’t make brown boots with brown stitching – but I do make boots with magic mushrooms, aliens, three-dimensional flowers, and mythical lumberjacks on them. My work focuses on intentional design and fine detail – every stitch, every cut, every little edge has crossed my mind and I hope that shines through on the final product. I might be one of the slowest bootmakers out there, but I can guarantee you that I thought about every single stitch along the way.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Folks can follow my work on my website, www.grahamebner.com, or @grahamebnerboots on Instagram. My boot orders are currently closed, but I do have a few other products available in my online shop. I’m always open to collaborations and weird cross-overs so people can send a message through the contact section of my website if they need to reach me.
Pricing:
- Bespoke Boots – $6,250 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grahamebner.com
- Instagram: @grahamebnerboots
