Building Boots the Anderson Bean Way
Trainor Evans was a sixth-generation cattleman; today he has been one of the owners of high-end Rios of Mercedes Boots since 1973. In 1988 Rios saw a need for a quality boot with the features of a Rios boot—at a lower price point. So, the company decided to create Anderson Bean—the maiden name of Trainor’s mother and his grandmother.
“I have to say that of all the things I’ve done in my life, being able to take the Evans’ women’s family names and make them notable because of this excellent boot is something I won’t forget,” Evans said. “I think, if they were still with us, they would be proud of Anderson Bean’s reputation.”
Making a less expensive boot doesn’t mean cutting corners at Anderson Bean. At headquarters in Mercedes, Texas, Anderson Bean boots are built by cutting the leather “on stretch” that means making sure a vamp or a top shaft expands in the right directions, so the footwear will not lose its fit as the boots break in. The vamps and shafts are paired with cream cowhide lining, sewn together with piping, side welt and bright decorative stitching.
Anderson Bean has numerous lasts to fit every toe shape, size and width offered by the company. The upper is dampened, pulled over the last by hand, and attached to the leather insole. The welt is sewn on, a steel shank is added, then the leather sole is glued and stitched to the welt and insole, then pegged with wooden pegs. The maker adds a heel, and then the heel and sole are sanded and burnished.
“We have figured out how to make a boot that is about the same price as most medium-priced boots, but it is made in ways that you would use to make high-quality, bench made boots,” Evans said.
