Born
to Italian immigrant parents in 1887, Tony Lama
learned his first lessons in the boot industry at
the early age of 11. An uncle apprenticed the boy
to a shoemaker in Syracuse, New York where he
learned the leather and boot trade.
Realizing the importance of a good boot fit from
his stint in the US Cavalry after the turn of the
century, Tony Lama set out to make the best
fitting, most comfortable boot possible.
In the 1930s, Western wear stores began asking for
his boots. To meet the growing demands, Tony Lama
developed methods to produce greater quantities
without sacrificing the key steps in hand
crafting. In 1961, nearly 50 years after the first
store opened, the company moved into larger
quarters and began making 750 pairs of boots a
day.
Tony Lama passed away in 1974, but his sons and
daughters continued his tradition of quality and
handcraftsmanship, making this a true American
success story. The legacy created by the humble
cobbler, a hard working entrepreneur with a fierce
pride in his craft, lives on. The same commitment
to quality is reflected in the corporation that
bears Tony Lama's name today. |
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