Hyer Boots
Hyer Boot Company is a historical American footwear brand that has been widely credited in historical accounts with contributing to the development of the modern cowboy boot.[1][2][3][4][5] Founded in 1800 by Charles H. Hyer in Olathe, Kansas, the company operated for 102 years before being sold in 1977.[6] In 2023, the brand was relaunched under the name HYER by Zach Lawless, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder.[7]
History
[edit]Charles H. Hyer, a shoemaker and leatherwork instructor at the Kansas State School for the Deaf, began making boots from his home in Olathe in 1875.[3][8] According to historical accounts, in 1876, a cowboy requested a custom boot that would better suit horseback riding.[3] Hyer designed a boot with a pointed toe, higher heel, and scalloped top.[3] This design gained popularity, leading to growing demand and the establishment of a bootmaking business.[1]
Hyer's company expanded significantly, employing family members, former students, and immigrant craftsmen.[3] It eventually adopted the name C.H. Hyer and Sons.[3] The company introduced a mail-order system that included measuring instructions, allowing it to serve customers across the United States and internationally.[9][10] A version of Hyer's measuring system is still used by modern boot makers.[10]
In 1919, the company was selling 15,000 pairs of boots per year and became known nationally as one of the largest handmade boot manufacturers.[6] Throughout the early and mid-20th century, Hyer boots were worn by figures such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Will Rogers, President Calvin Coolidge, and President Theodore Roosevelt.[6][11]
After Charles H. Hyer passed away in 1921, his sons continued to run the company.[6] By the 1960s and 1970s, the company faced challenges, including a decline in skilled labor and changes in manufacturing processes.[1] In 1977, the Hyer family sold the business to the Ben Miller Boot Company of El Paso, Texas, which moved operations and phased out the Hyer brand.[1]
Relaunch
[edit]In 2023, entrepreneur Zach Lawless, the great-great-grandson of Charles Hyer, relaunched the brand as HYER Boots after acquiring the trademark from its previous owner.[7][12] Lawless partnered with Western lifestyle company Teton Ridge and brought on individuals with prior experience in the footwear and Western wear industries.[7] The relaunch kept the original boot designs while incorporating updated materials and features.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Hyer Cowboy Boots - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kansashistory.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ^ "Autry's Collections Online –". collections.theautry.org. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tall Tales from the Old West - June 21, 2019". Kansas Public Radio. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ^ "Hyer cowboy boots - Kansas Memory". www.kansasmemory.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Cabe, Caroline (2023-03-17). "Ride HYER With The Relaunch Of The Historical Boot Brand". Cowboys and Indians Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ a b c d "Historical Winner". Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ a b c King, Mary (2022-12-07). "Kansas City company, makers of the original cowboy boot, is relaunching in 2023". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ^ "Hyer Boot Factory". MDHAC. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ a b Collins, Leslie (2023-02-14). "Hyer Boots CEO wants resurrected family brand to be 'crown jewel' of industry". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ^ a b JoCoMuseum (2014-02-27). "Hyer Boots, home of the cowboy boot". JoCoHistory Blog. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ "Hyer Boot Company - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kansashistory.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Collins, Leslie (2023-12-01). "Resurrected Hyer Boots lassos cowboy boot retailers nationwide, coveted sponsorship". Kansas City Business Journal – via The Business Journals.