Custom Made in Marfa
Unique, Stylish Boots From Cobra Rock
C
olt Miller and Logan
Caldbeck opened Cobra
Rock Boot Company in
Marfa just three years ago in 2011.
Today, there's an eight-month
waiting list before you’d be able to
pull on a pair of their handmade
boots.
The two met in Lubbock, Texas
in 2006 when Miller was making
cowboy boots in his garage and
Caldbeck was visiting friends. They
initially moved to Marfa because
Caldbeck got an internship at the
Chinati Foundation.
But Miller, who’s from a tiny
Texas ranching town, and Caldbeck
who grew up on a small island in
British Columbia, were drawn to
Marfa's tight knit community and
decided to settle in permanently
and open up shop. “We’d always
dreamed of doing this kind of
project, of owning a boot shop
together,” Caldbeck says, and
Marfa’s creative atmosphere
perfectly complemented their
vision. "We’ve always been
interested in art and music and
Marfa was that perfect mix of all
the great things about a small town,
but there’s also a lot of culture,” she
says. “There’s so many different
creative people here, and that’s
really exciting to be around.”
Miller originally brought the
boot making know-how to Cobra
Rock, and taught Caldbeck the
craft when they opened in 2011. “I
grew up in a ranching community
so I loved cowboy boots,” he says.
That love influenced Cobra Rock's
current boot designs, which they
describe as western inspired, desert
boots built like a cowboy boot, but
with a broader appeal.
Miller and Caldbeck's
collaboration resulted in the South
Highland boot (the Buckhorn in
the men’s version), which falls
somewhere between a classic
cowboy boot and contemporary
lace-up. It’s got the timeless western
touches of a stacked leather heel
and square toe, which are merged
with a contemporary lace-up style.
Their second style, the Chisos boot,
is built with the same signature
heel, but has a rounded toe.
The duo cut, shape, and stitch
every pair using all-American, oiltanned leather in a process that
takes two and half to three weeks
from beginning to end. “They’re
thoroughly handmade,” they say
with a laugh. “The boots start and
end with us.” Their effort shows.
Each pair of Cobra Rock boots
demonstrates impeccable
craftsmanship, which, coupled with
their unique and elegant design,
results in a boot you won’t find
anywhere else. To learn more and
get on the wait-list for your own
pair visit CobraRock.com BB
BIG BEND GALLERIES AND ARTISTS / 2015 9