Lucchese Boot Company

Lucchese Bootmaker
Industry Footwear
Founded San Antonio, Texas, U.S. (1883 (1883))
Founder Sam Lucchese
Headquarters El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Products Western footwear, Leather goods
Website lucchese.com

The Lucchese Boot Company (/luːˈkeɪsi/) is an American retailer of cowboy boots.

History

Lucchese Boot Company was established in San Antonio, Texas in 1883 by Sam Lucchese, Sr. (1868-1929), an Italian immigrant from Sicily, and his brothers.[1][2] It was then known as Lucchese Bros.[3] Their main customer was the United States Army stationed in Fort Sam Houston.[3] Sam Lucchese “stress[ed] quality, quantity and cost efficiency” in the boot-making process. He would often invest in new technology, machines and in developing new techniques in order to increase the production of boots.

In 1923, Sam Lucchese, Sr., fell ill, and his son Cosimo Lucchese took over. He incorporated the Lucchese Boot Company that same year, which had previously been known as Lucchese Bros.[4]

In 1949, the company was commissioned to provide boots for an advertising campaign for Acme Boots.[5] In 1961, Sam Lucchese, Jr., took over, and by 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson admitted to wearing Lucchese boots.

In 1970, Lucchese was sold to Blue Bell Corporation, the parent company to Wrangler. By 1987, the company had moved from San Antonio, Texas to El Paso, Texas, where it is still headquartered. By 1998, Blue Bell Corporation sold Lucchese to Arena Brands, a Western Apparel conglomerate that was formerly known as Hat Brands, Inc.[6]

In 2009, the Texas Legislature recognized the company's contribution to Texan culture by passing House Concurrent Resolution 226.[3] Four years later, in 2013, Lucchese launched a new consumer website.[7]

John Muse is the chairman of the company,[8] who sponsors the Lucchese Polo Team.[9]

References

  1. ↑ William Manns, How the Cowboy Got the Boot, American Cowboy, March–April 2000, p. 52
  2. ↑ Bill Harvey, Texas Cemeteries: The Resting Places of Famous, Infamous, and Just Plain Interesting Texans, University of Texas Press, 2003, p. 222 ,
  3. 1 2 3 Lucchese: Our History
  4. ↑ Elizabeth C. Ramírez, "LUCCHESE, SAM," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fluan), accessed July 13, 2015. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  5. ↑ C. J. Hadley, Trappings of the Great Basin Buckaroo, University of Nevada Press, 2003, p. 138
  6. ↑ Bloomberg: Arena Brands
  7. ↑ Kristen Studman, From Presidents to Rock Stars: This shoe brand is the go-to choice of icons, Elle, June 14, 2014
  8. ↑ Bloomberg BusinessWeek: John Muse
  9. ↑ Lucchese Polo Team
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