Bfd70
I'll Lock Up
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- 5,401
- Location
- Traverse city
In Chicago. Any loungers going?
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Stitchdown bootcamp 2025
- Thread starter Bfd70
- Start date
photo2u
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,866
- Location
- claremont california
I would love to attend if I could. B’ Leather from the Dominican Republic is a great company with good prices. I have visited and purchase some hides for my vacation home in Las Terrenas.
Featured products
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John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. -
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. -
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,072
- Location
- Iowa
I'm planning to. Dates & places of it?
Bfd70
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,401
- Location
- Traverse city
AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,072
- Location
- Iowa
Anyone else here planning to hit this up on Saturday?
AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,072
- Location
- Iowa
I went. I saw. I drooled quite a bit. I bought...a Pizza slice and a Coke for lunch (for $8.25)! 
I really enjoyed meeting @Bfd70 and two of his friends in person. I managed to miss the snow that blanketed the area on Sunday with over 8" in a short period of time. I also got to meet Nick from Stridewise, he's quite the cool dude if you ever get to meet him:
Another Nick story, or more rather Nick's boots and their collaboration with Heat Straps for jackets is developing further. I was not a huge fan of several of the styles, but this one, in "walnut double stuffed" Siedel leather, was great. It's a forthcoming jacket so not on the website yet, this one is a Medium, if it had been slightly larger in the midsection, I might have tried to purchase it from them. Type III jackets with brass snap hardware are growing on me (This was by far the most serious I looked all day):
And of course, there were Boots from all around the world:
Fans of boots everywhere, as well as leather jackets, backpacks, belts, etc:
Plenty of Tanneries offering their wares and specialty tanning techniques (allow time if you start visiting with them):
And one very special bootmaker was on site occupying a corner of the upstairs, who needs no introduction:
This was honestly one of the coolest, most chill, easy-going occasions I have recently attended. There was no real sense of competition among the makers, they all know why there are there and that they are catering to a rather small, but steadily growing, cross section of the population. Being mostly hand-made products, they realize they can only build so many at any one given period of time. Moreover the camaraderie amongst people, both representing the products as well as simply looking and drooling was tremendous. Even just wearing the Freenote Cloth Scout shirt, multiple people approached and asked about it, as well as the Nick's boots, even the belt I was wearing (made by fellow FL member @FlatCap99 ) received attention.
It was just great to be surrounded for a few hours by people who all love a lot of the same things we do on here. I encourage more of us to enjoy these events in the future, but - maybe leave the checkbook at home.
I really enjoyed meeting @Bfd70 and two of his friends in person. I managed to miss the snow that blanketed the area on Sunday with over 8" in a short period of time. I also got to meet Nick from Stridewise, he's quite the cool dude if you ever get to meet him:
Another Nick story, or more rather Nick's boots and their collaboration with Heat Straps for jackets is developing further. I was not a huge fan of several of the styles, but this one, in "walnut double stuffed" Siedel leather, was great. It's a forthcoming jacket so not on the website yet, this one is a Medium, if it had been slightly larger in the midsection, I might have tried to purchase it from them. Type III jackets with brass snap hardware are growing on me (This was by far the most serious I looked all day):
And of course, there were Boots from all around the world:
Fans of boots everywhere, as well as leather jackets, backpacks, belts, etc:
Plenty of Tanneries offering their wares and specialty tanning techniques (allow time if you start visiting with them):
And one very special bootmaker was on site occupying a corner of the upstairs, who needs no introduction:
This was honestly one of the coolest, most chill, easy-going occasions I have recently attended. There was no real sense of competition among the makers, they all know why there are there and that they are catering to a rather small, but steadily growing, cross section of the population. Being mostly hand-made products, they realize they can only build so many at any one given period of time. Moreover the camaraderie amongst people, both representing the products as well as simply looking and drooling was tremendous. Even just wearing the Freenote Cloth Scout shirt, multiple people approached and asked about it, as well as the Nick's boots, even the belt I was wearing (made by fellow FL member @FlatCap99 ) received attention.
It was just great to be surrounded for a few hours by people who all love a lot of the same things we do on here. I encourage more of us to enjoy these events in the future, but - maybe leave the checkbook at home.
Last edited:
AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,072
- Location
- Iowa
@FlatCap99 Good to "see" you on here. Definitely, try and make the next one if you can at all. You're also a maker of good leather items, so you would feel right at home.
AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,072
- Location
- Iowa
Great news: This is coming back to Chicago for 2026!
https://www.stitchdownbootcamp.com/
Just a note to everyone here - even if you are not specifically a "boots" person such as I am, you will very likely find this an enjoyable and productive time. Tons of jackets, sample leathers, sample denims, bags, backpacks, leather care and honestly just a chance to meet a lot of people passionate about heritage quality goods in person. If you are able to make it at all, I highly encourage it!
https://www.stitchdownbootcamp.com/
Just a note to everyone here - even if you are not specifically a "boots" person such as I am, you will very likely find this an enjoyable and productive time. Tons of jackets, sample leathers, sample denims, bags, backpacks, leather care and honestly just a chance to meet a lot of people passionate about heritage quality goods in person. If you are able to make it at all, I highly encourage it!
