Brandle

The Brandle name traces its origins to the late 1800s when Mr. A. Brandle, Shuyler Mowe's great-grandfather-in-law, operated Brandle's Boot Emporium in Chillicothe, Ohio. Born in Germany and having emigrated with nothing, Mr. Brandle established a thriving footwear business that spanned 1,200 square feet, selling ladies', gents', and children's boots and shoes.

The modern connection to bootmaking came through Shuyler's father, Steve Mowe, who purchased Nicks Boots in 2013. Under his leadership, the company transformed from a Pacific Northwestern logger boot specialist into a heritage footwear powerhouse. This foundation enabled Shuyler to pursue his vision of creating the finest production dress boots possible, resulting in the launch of the Brandle brand.

The 1925 model, named to honor the brand's heritage, represents over a year of sourcing, sampling, and development. Shuyler worked with a fifth-generation Hungarian bootmaker to design the pattern and establish every detail of construction, creating a product distinct from Nicks Boots despite sharing the same workshop and some craftspeople.

Brandle boots employ close-trim single row stitchdown construction with approximately 30 percent higher stitches per inch compared to standard Nicks boots. This enhanced stitch density contributes to both durability and refined appearance. The construction process includes a three-day lasting period, during which the glue, stitching, and leather set properly to prevent wrinkling or warping over years of wear.

The brand follows a selective "one hide equals one boot" philosophy, using only the highest quality leather from near the spine of the animal. This section of the hide exhibits the least warping and wrinkling, ensuring optimal aging characteristics. All leather components, including insoles, midsoles, heels, leather toe puffs, and outsoles, come from the renowned JR Leather Company in Germany.

A distinctive feature of the 1925 model is the 3/8-inch brass plate meticulously fitted into the heel stack. This detail evokes handmade boots from the early 1900s while adding visual interest and durability. The boots are built on the custom MM1925 last, designed specifically for the brand, and incorporate a solid steel shank for structural support.

The 1925 dress boot serves as Brandle's flagship model, embodying the brand's commitment to merging heritage design with contemporary luxury. The 1964 model represents another key offering in the Brandle lineup. While both styles maintain the same exacting standards of construction and material selection, they offer different aesthetic options for customers seeking premium American-made dress boots.

Every component on a Brandle boot is unique to the brand, from the tiny nails securing the outsole to the brass plate in the heel stack, differentiating the product from both mass-produced footwear and the more work-oriented Nicks Boots line.

Limited publicly available sources for Brandle.