To Boot New York
To Boot New York is an American shoe brand based in New York City founded and designed by Adam Derrick and sold at large department stores and boutiques in the United States and Canada[1] as well as through its own e-commerce site.
Origins
[edit]The brand's founder and designer is Adam Derrick, who lives in Chelsea, Manhattan. Derrick opened a cowboy boot store on Columbus Avenue, on New York's Upper West Side in 1979 when they were a fad, and before which time, according to him, New Yorkers has mostly never "liked, seen or worn" cowboy boots. After that trend subsided, thinking about what products to pursue next, Derrick travelled to Italy, "falling in love" with the footwear in that country. He started apprenticing at shoe factories, and thus learned about men's shoes and their construction, notably the detailed artisanship. He began producing men's shoes especially for his store, "To Boot" in New York, which was a success, after which upscale department stores Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue began buying his product wholesale and retailing it.[2] Harry Rosen and Nordstrom retail the brand in Canada.[1]
The brand competed successfully against "Park Avenue" brands like Allen Edmonds with its American-made shows in the $600 rangem, with Italian-made shoes in the $300–350 range. The Italian-made products were generally lighter and sleeker, and seemed more modern, but not as high quality. Average shoppers couldn't distinguish the quality of the "Park Avenue" products and chose the cheaper, but more on-trend product.[3]
All products are made in Italy.[4] The brand name includes "New York" which Derrick regards as the fashion capital of the U.S. and a "crossroads of fashion" on a global scale.[2]
Milestones
[edit]In 2018 the company started offering extended sizes on its e-commerce website.[5]
In 2019 To Boot New York launched its women's shoe line.[citation needed]
In 2023 Nordstrom department store's Manhattan location remodeled its men's shoe department and started offering an extended selection of To Boot New York styles.[6]
Celebrities wearing the brand
[edit]In 2015, Andy Samberg wore To Boot New York sneakers as a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Other celebrities spotted wearing the brand to events include Michael Strahan, Matt McGorry of Orange is the New Black and How to Get Away with Murder, Corey Stoll of Ant-Man and House of Cards, and Jake Robinson of American Odyssey.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Store Locator". To Boot New York. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Chan, Stephanie (2 October 2015). "Designers Dish: To Boot New York Founder Adam Derrick". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "What happened to Allen Edmonds? The Decline of an American Icon". Brillaré Shoe Care - Official Saphir Reseller. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ DeAcetis, Joseph (16 January 2019). "To Boot Founder Adam Derrick On Designing Footwear For The Stars". Forbes. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Street, Mikelle (1 March 2018). "The Rock's Custom Shoemaker Now Offers Sizes for Guys With Big Feet". Men's Journal. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Garner, Stephen (27 September 2023). "Nordstrom Doubles Size of Men's Shoe Floor at NYC Store". Footwear News. Retrieved 19 June 2024.