As a result of more than a century of craftsmanship and a deep-rooted tradition in Western footwear, El Paso has been crowned the Official Boot Capital of Texas.

On May 20, 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Concurrent Resolution 29 into law. Authored by Sen. César J. Blanco and sponsored by Rep. Mary González, the resolution officially designated El Paso as the Boot Capital of Texas.

In a statement, Blanco said:

“El Paso has long been the Bootmaking hub of Texas, built by generations of local artisans, small businesses, and manufacturers who set the standard for Western craftsmanship. That rich legacy is why I’m proud to carry this resolution forward – so we can officially recognize El Paso as the Boot Capital of Texas and honor the hardworking community that has made our city a symbol of quality, tradition, and borderland pride.”

This rich history of bootmaking in El Paso dates to the late 19th century, when working cowboys needed footwear designed for the rigors of cattle drives. By the 20th century, cowboy boots had become a symbol of Western culture, worn by ranchers, rodeo stars and Hollywood stars.

Artisans have passed down techniques for generations, while the industry supports small businesses, local artists and tourism.

The city is home to both iconic brands and independent craftsmen who produce handcrafted cowboy boots, such as Black Jack Boots, Lucchese and Justin Boots.

Inside the Union Plaza District is Nevana Christi’s internationally recognized boot shop, Rocketbuster, where all of its products are made by a small staff.

“I take pride in sharing our shop with people from across the globe,” says Christi, adding, “You’d be surprised what people say when they see that some things are still made by hand. We also love showing folks that a boot can be so much more than a knock around casual thing. On any weekday, we give tours to folks from across the globe. We take great pride in sharing the history of cowboy boots. Some of the boots in our vintage collection were made over 100 years ago and they are still soft today because they were made of all natural materials with the painstaking techniques we still use today.”

Founded by Marty Snortum, Rocketbuster is famed for its bold, colorful, hand-tooled custom designs. Its creative flair has earned the company celebrity clients like Kendrick Lamar, Reba and Sylvester Stallone.

It also holds a Guinness World Record for the largest cowboy boots ever made.

“Leatherwork can involve many different methods,” says Christi. “The first step is to figure out which is best for the customer’s project and then hand draw the pattern to fit their foot. Every challenge is different and there is always the starting point of research and inspiration. It’s like a puzzle that you need to solve, but once the lightbulb goes on, that’s when the fun starts. From my pencil drawing to the finished cut leather or carved leather it’s always exciting. I really enjoy sharing projects with our followers on Instagram. It gives us a boost when people see a developing project and encourage us to keep going.”

Officially designating El Paso as the Boot Capital of Texas can attract investment, draw visitors interested in authentic Western culture and reinforce El Paso’s identity as a symbol of Texas craftsmanship, much like Rocketbuster has done. By spotlighting El Paso’s bootmakers, the recognition can inspire continued innovation and celebrate small businesses.