Arno Shoes

The brand emphasizes a slow fashion philosophy, creating boots designed to be worn for decades with repair capability rather than following disposable footwear trends. Both founders studied at the Stefano Bemer shoemaking school in Florence, Italy, where they met in 2019 while learning traditional Italian shoemaking methods.

Arno Shoes was established in 2021 by husband and wife team Mikhail Bliskavka and Christine O'Leary, both of whom trained at the Stefano Bemer shoemaking school in Florence, Italy. Mikhail, a Ukrainian-American and former U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force reservist with an electrical engineering background, attended the shoemaking school. Christine, who previously worked in media and event production in New York City, trained in shoe finishing at Stefano Bemer and worked supporting the workshop.

The founders met in 2019 while fulfilling their goal of living in Florence and learning traditional Italian shoemaking methods. Before his formal training in Italy, Mikhail apprenticed under Chuck at Tulsa Shoe Rebuilders and worked with Dan Hickman on pattern making and construction techniques. The brand was conceived in Tulsa in 2021 as a way to blend Florentine heritage with American style.

The company's boots are handmade in León, Mexico, one of the world's major shoe manufacturing centers. León is responsible for approximately 70% of Mexico's estimated annual footwear production of 250 million pairs. Arno Shoes works with artisan partners in León who use the same traditional methods the founders learned in Florence.

The brand initially focused on bespoke custom work through their Shoe Lab before launching ready-to-wear offerings. The Shoe Lab continues to feature custom projects including boots made with exotic materials such as shell cordovan, zebra hide, python, and kudu leather.

Arno Shoes uses traditional Goodyear welt construction methods, which allow boots to be resoled and repaired over time. The ready-to-wear boots feature seamless upper patterns with leather midsoles and studded rubber outsoles. Construction details include a wide, 360-degree flat welt with dense, consistent stitching.

The company sources high-quality leather from respected tanneries meeting sustainability standards. Kudu leather is a preferred material, sourced from wild animals hunted for meat and hide. The brand uses vegetable tanning methods when possible to ensure biodegradability. Additional leathers used include buffalo, shrunken bison, and various roughout finishes.

Arno Shoes emphasizes a slow fashion approach that rejects disposable footwear trends. The company's philosophy centers on creating boots that "get better with age, show your story with every scuff and patina." Boots are built for durability spanning decades with repair capability built into their construction. This represents a commitment to thoughtful handcraft rather than fast-fashion production methods.