Traders of the Lost Arts

Ross and Co. leather crafts in Amarillo is the place for handmade boots and repairs.

Ricky Cates, distinguished craftsman, showed me around.

There are very few skilled leather craftsmen around these days.




They make boots of all shapes and sizes (well, generally the same shape i suppose!) - high tops, low tops, ropers, riders. Calf or bull leather is most common but other popular leather choices are kangaroo, ostrich, elephant, shark and top of the range - alligator.








Handmade 'off the peg' or custom made to specification.

The boots to the left are father and son. Cowboys and ranchers often have their Brand on their boots. Here L/ is the father and L// is the son.


Available in any colour.








Owner Charles Ross is 4th generation Texan and continues the family bootmaking tradition. The familly business was established in 1919. The picture he holds shows the founder family members.

Lauren Ross, aged 10, is already showing an interst in the business and puts together her own boot designs.