Bordon Handmade Boots

The company moved its production from Spain and Italy to Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic and European crisis, establishing a completely in-house manufacturing process. Bordon emphasizes sustainability through on-demand production, direct sourcing of raw materials, and environmentally conscious practices while maintaining traditional artisan craftsmanship techniques.

Bordon Handmade began operations in 2018 with the goal of addressing what founders saw as a lack of suitable footwear in the Colombian market. The company initially produced shoes in Spain and Italy before adopting the Bordon name in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic and European crisis, production was relocated to Colombia to establish what the company describes as a "100 percent made-in-Colombia collection."

The company's founding mission centered on offering high-quality footwear products at accessible prices for the Colombian market while developing sustainable manufacturing practices. This approach led to the development of their current direct-to-consumer business model and made-to-order production system.

Bordon operates a completely handmade production process conducted entirely in-house, allowing the company to continuously refine their construction methods. All boots are manufactured exclusively on demand to reduce waste and enable more environmentally friendly production practices. The company reports using every available piece of leather in their production process to minimize material waste.

Production is handled by experienced Colombian artisans who hand-last and handcraft each pair of boots. Since establishing in-house production capabilities, Bordon has implemented what they describe as more meticulous craftsmanship processes, resulting in an estimated lead time of nine months minimum for completion of orders.

The made-to-order approach eliminates overstock issues while enabling the company to maintain detailed attention to construction quality throughout the manufacturing process.

Bordon uses stitch down double row construction for their boots, representing a shift from earlier Blake stitch construction methods. The stitchdown technique involves stitching the sole directly to the upper leather with two parallel rows of stitching, creating what the company describes as waterproof and hard-wearing construction.

This construction method is considered more labor-intensive than machine-driven alternatives such as Blake stitch or Goodyear welt construction. The stitchdown approach provides enhanced durability and water resistance compared to traditional Goodyear welt methods, while requiring greater skill levels from craftsmen during the construction process.

The company sources premium materials from established tanneries, primarily utilizing leather from Wickett and Craig and Maryam tanneries. Hand-lasted uppers are crafted from oiled latigo leather from Wickett and Craig in five to six ounce weights, with some models featuring double stuffed leather from the same supplier.

Interior construction includes pure aniline Italian calf leather linings paired with Colombian vegetable-tanned leather insoles and midsoles. A cork filler layer is positioned between the insole and midsole to provide moisture resistance and comfort adaptation over time. Leather heel counters utilize vegetable-tanned construction methods.

Outsole options include Vibram Eton soles available in flat and studded configurations, plus Vibram Commando soles designed for outdoor applications with enhanced grip characteristics. Heel lifts are sourced locally using vegetable-tanned leather materials, while insoles, midsoles, and welts incorporate Colombian vegetable-tanned leather throughout.

Bordon currently offers three main boot models designed to serve different style preferences and applications. The Tukano represents their jumper boot design, essentially a service boot style featuring low-profile lace-up construction. The Isidro functions as a Chelsea boot with more rugged construction characteristics than typical Chelsea designs. The Wanes serves as their casual plain toe boot option.

The Tukano model is available in multiple colorways with pricing at $429 for the Chestnut variation. Product specifications emphasize traditional construction methods combined with modern material sourcing and sustainability practices.

The company operates through a direct-to-consumer sales approach designed to reduce traditional retail markups while maintaining quality standards. Raw materials including leather and thread are sourced directly from suppliers to lower production chain costs and provide more accessible pricing for customers.

Bordon's business model prioritizes environmental protection, artisan working conditions, and customer interests through their production practices. The made-to-order system eliminates overpriced stock while enabling transparent manufacturing processes that customers can understand and evaluate.

The sustainability focus extends to waste reduction practices, with the company utilizing available leather materials completely during production runs. This approach supports both environmental goals and cost management while maintaining the quality standards expected in heritage footwear manufacturing.