Setting a HYER Standard in Boot Making

Did you know it’s estimated that more than 6 million cowboy boots are sold in the United States annually in recent years? 

From true function when riding, rodeoing, and working outdoors to fashion-forward styles meant to complete the look, cowboy boots have only skyrocketed in popularity and there seems to be a color, shape, and stitch for every personal taste. With so many possibilities on the market, have you ever stopped to wonder where the very first pair of cowboy boots originated?

The birth of the cowboy boot can be traced back to Savannah Sevens’ home state and we’re proud to tell you that boot company is alive and well, and five of its styles are now a part of our footwear collection! The history of HYER Boots is awe-inspiring, and just as impressive as its backstory is its testimony to rebooting {pun intended} for the modern day. 

Come with us as we take you inside the heritage of HYER Boots and why Savannah 7s’ founder Ryley Wimer was determined to have its legacy products in our lineup. 

Where Cowboy Boots Get Their Roots

The year was 1875. The town? Olathe, Kansas. And the man…C.H. Hyer. 

The owner of a small cobbler shop, Hyer was approached one day by a cowboy requesting custom boots for his role as a cattle driver. In addition to using materials resilient enough for the rugged job, Hyer adjusted the design to have a pointed toe and raised heel. This innovative creation is credited as being the first cowboy boot.

But the iconic history doesn’t stop there. Hyer learned how to expand his business by being one of the first to adopt the mail-order catalogue. Customers would trace the shape of their foot on a piece of paper and send in the rendering for their own personal footwear—without having to travel to Kansas.

Soon, it wasn’t just cowboys and everyday folks wearing HYER Boots—celebrities and presidents too! Marilyn Monroe sported a pair in the movie “The Misfits.” President Calvin Coolidge is photographed in HYER Boots during the dedication of Mount Rushmore. Even Buffalo Bill Cody and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower are said to have worn them. 

HYER Boots continued as a family operation for almost 100 years. Then, in the 1970s, it fell upon hard times and the owners made the tough decision to relinquish control of it to another footwear company where it eventually shuttered. However, that’s not the end of the story…

HYER Rides Again

If 100 years as a family business doesn’t tell you how important that tradition is to HYER, this will convince you. The company was revived in 2023 by none other than C.H. Hyer’s great-great grandson! 

As a kid, Zach Lawless was oblivious to the fact that the HYER Boots legacy was a part of his heritage. The closing of the brand was a sensitive subject for his grandfather, who was running HYER at the time, so it was rarely discussed. However, Lawless found a treasure trove of HYER memorabilia in his grandfather’s basement after his passing and immediately wanted to know more.

Lawless worked to get the HYER trademark back in family hands. He moved to Mexico to personally learn how to make boots. He then returned home to Kansas to immerse himself in cowboy culture, learning what was vital for the function and wear of boots. 

It’s been three years since the relaunch of HYER Boots and Lawless is determined to preserve the art of cowboy boot making, creating a company where tradition and innovation merge. And we can tell you firsthand, the finished product is nothing short of extraordinary.

HYER’s Higher Standard

“They don’t look like anything else out there, and they don’t perform like anything else out there either. That combination is rare, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Savannah Sevens founder Ryley Wimer has truly been impressed by the craftsmanship, performance, and eye-catching design of HYER Boots when rediscovering the footwear brand that her parents used to wear. They are constructed with premium full-grain leather, dual-density cushioning and meticulous stitch patterns.

“The comfort is everything,” said Ryley. “The sole is designed to actually rock with your foot as you step. It’s one of those things you feel immediately and can’t stop noticing.

“And I’ll be honest, they are flat out gorgeous. Every style they make, I want. I’m actively having to limit myself to just a few pairs because if I had it my way, I’d own the whole lineup! That’s not something I say lightly.”

In addition to the boots’ impeccable design, Ryley also loves HYER’s story of family, tradition, and its heritage in the heartland. Did you know each boot is named after a Kansas town? Savannah Sevens carrying HYER Boots is a perfect match and we are so excited to offer such a quality product to our customers.

Explore our HYER Boots Collection here!