It’s a plain and simple fact, some things are just meant to work together, and the recent collaboration between country star Parker McCollum and Lucchese boots is certainly a winner. Both quintessentially Texan, their beginnings over 100 years apart, the range of “Parker's Picks” has evolved from his long-time admiration for Lucchese bootmakers. McCollum, who has amassed around 50 pairs of cowboy boots to date, has his own select line of favorites. You can “shop his look” on the Lucchese website for a style which is comfortable yet tough, with more artistry than you can shake a stick at, and McCollum wears them from the stage to the ranch, and everywhere in between!
The Lucchese story began in 1868 when Salvatore Lucchese disembarked from a ship in Galveston on which he had sailed from Sicily. Utilizing skills he had learned from his shoemaker father, he opened his first boot making business in San Antonio in 1883. Originally making boots for the cavalry, the military and later cowboy boots. Today’s boots have retained many of the original cuts and styles which make them a design classic, using an organic method the boots are handcrafted and created by accomplished artisans, who pass their skills down through the family of employees. These boots are a work of art and pass through 180 – 200 hands from start to finish.
McCollum has worked with Lucchese to create custom boots of his own, “I started having fun designing boots and had a couple of crazy requests at first to see what they’d pull off. I wanted blue king crocodile and they said, “Let’s do it!”, they’re awesome boots and I wear them all the time”. McCollum’s custom boots all have his signature embroidered on the pull tab, one of Lucchese’s many unique finishing touches.
The McCollum/Lucchese collaboration brings together parallel core principles and practices, McCollum explains “Nothing’s rushed or forced, it all happens very organically – they’re extremely authentic, extremely genuine, their custom handmade boots which have been made the same way for over one hundred years, they’re really aware of their brand and what they stand for, that’s really important for me, that’s how I run my career”.
Lucchese uses an extensive range of exotic skins “the final coloration would be based on a series of dyes, burnishing and finishing of the boots to get that final color, so they’re all a little bit different” Doug Hogue, VP of brand and product for Lucchese tells me. “There is an interesting secondary market for Lucchese boots, in particular boots that were made in San Antonio in our original location”. McCollum says, “They look even better the more you wear them”, the quality materials and exquisite workmanship make these boots timeless. Lucchese are now being worn by entire bridal parties at weddings, creating the perfect heirloom to be passed down through generations.
There are four Lucchese stores in the Houston area, “We like to meet our clients and our customers where they are” explains Angela Hahn, director of retail stores for Lucchese, “a lot of that involves events like The National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, The Houston Rodeo and different events that pop up like Round Top”. Special edition boots are exclusively available at many of these events.
We wait with anticipation to follow the step-by-step journey of this marvelous toe kicking, boot scootin’ covenant of two celebrated Texas leaders.
Parker McCollum will be performing across the USA during 2024 with his “Burn It Down” tour.
“A good work ethic and some good manners will open more doors for you than anything else” – Parker McCollum
“I started having fun designing boots and had a couple of crazy requests at first to see what they’d pull off." - Parker McCollum
