Quan Shoemaker Unlisted Model

It was my intention to enter into this years ‘Dome, a boot from an independent maker, that being Quan Shoemaker. I also wanted my entry to be a black tea core boot as I felt black boots were under-represented in the previous ‘Dome. My Chinese made Quan’s began their journey rather serendipitously, as their maiden wears were for 6 weeks in Dallas, Texas in a 9 degree “ice tent” working with ice sculptors from Harbin China. The boots broke in rather effortlessly, but it was evident right from the start that the black Maryam HB was a tough leather and bringing out the tea core would be an arduous task. Brushed regularly, and conditioned 3 times, including a burnishing of the edges and new laces for final photos, my Quan’s have held up spectacularly. The rolls and creases speak to the love and comfort they gave to my feet as the boots have certainly developed their own personality. Worn for 90% of the ‘Dome, these boots were also made for walking, having pounded the streets of NYC, and hiked in the Catskill Mountains of upstate NY. They also spent a couple weeks traveling around Mexico, dusted up in blue agave fields, walked on the same sacred grounds of Oaxaca’s Monte Alban as the Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs, waited patiently for MTO street empanadas, and stood upon the tile floors of Frida Kahlo’s home/studio in Mexico City. As the dome ends, I admittedly feel a bit of sadness, it has been such a great experience watching these boots become a part of who I am, and while other boots have been neglected and these do deserve a rest, I take comfort knowing they will still be a part of my daily rotation..because under there somewhere, lies that stubborn brown tea-core, just waiting to make an appearance.