Lucchese Boot Company

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

Lucchese Bootmaker
Formerly
Lucchese Bros
IndustryFootwear
FoundedSan Antonio, Texas, U.S. (1883 (1883))
FounderSam Lucchese
Headquarters
El Paso, Texas
,
U.S.
Key people
Cosimo Lucchese
John Muse (Chairman)
ProductsWestern footwear, Leather goods
Websitelucchese.com

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.[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.

Celebrities John Wayne, a customer for over 50 years, Bing Crosby, James Garner, Andrew Sweet, and Zsa Zsa Gabor wore custom Lucchese boots.[6][7]

In 1970, Lucchese was sold to Blue Bell Overall Company, 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.[8]

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.[9]

John Muse is the chairman of the company,[10] who sponsors the Lucchese Polo Team.[11]

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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. 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. "Western Boots with Italian Roots: The Lucchese Boot Company". 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  7. "The story of Lucchese boots, a true Texas original". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  8. Bloomberg: Arena Brands
  9. Kristen Studman, From Presidents to Rock Stars: This shoe brand is the go-to choice of icons, Elle, June 14, 2014
  10. Bloomberg BusinessWeek: John Muse
  11. Lucchese Polo Team
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