Briselblack Bootmaker

The company focuses primarily on Chelsea boots, which represent approximately 50% of orders, along with Engineer boots and Jodhpur boots. Briselblack specializes in horsebutt leather construction, with 80% of boots made from this material, and offers both imported and locally sourced leather options ranging from $195 to $1,350 depending on leather grade.

Briselblack was founded in 2018 by Adi Hermawan, who initially named the company "Benzein" after his son Ben and the family company Zein. Adi's family has been involved in the shoe business since 1986, providing him with generational knowledge of footwear manufacturing. Before founding the company, Adi worked as a graphic designer, bringing a design perspective to traditional bootmaking.

The company underwent a significant rebranding in 2023, changing its name from Benzein to Briselblack. This change reflected the company's evolution and market positioning within the heritage footwear community. The company operates from Bandung, Indonesia, which serves as the center of Indonesia's shoe manufacturing industry.

Briselblack operates a workshop staffed by seven experienced craftsmen who produce boots using traditional hand-lasting and hand-welting construction methods. The workshop specializes in Veldtschoen construction and traditional Goodyear welt techniques, with production limited to 2-3 pairs per week due to the time investment required for handwork.

Nearly all boots are made through a Made to Order (MTO) system, allowing for customization of materials and specifications. The company focuses primarily on laceless boot designs, with particular expertise in wholecut construction using single pieces of leather. This construction approach requires significant skill to shape and form boots without seams along the upper.

The company sources materials from multiple countries including Taiwan, Japan, England, Germany, Italy, and the United States, as well as using local Indonesian leather. Approximately 80% of Briselblack boots are constructed using horsebutt leather with a thickness of 2.5-2.8mm, providing durability and aging characteristics valued by heritage footwear enthusiasts.

Imported leather options include Horween Chromexcel and Maryam horsebutt leathers, while the company also offers shell cordovan and exotic leather variants. The selection of imported versus local materials significantly affects pricing, with imported leather boots commanding higher prices due to material costs and quality characteristics.

Briselblack's product lineup centers on laceless boot styles, with The Seventh Chelsea Boot serving as the most popular design since its introduction in mid-2019 with the Kujang last. The Keeper Engineer Boot and its Type 2 variant represent the second most popular category, while The Kai Jodhpur ranks third in customer preference.

Additional models include The Kanon Boot and its Brogue Cap Toe variant, The Buck Wholecut Lace to Toe, The Catcher, The Hawk, The Hanker Tanker Boots, The Stride Side Zip Boots, and the TDD-01 and TDD 02 models. Each design focuses on the company's core competencies in laceless construction and premium leather selection.

Briselblack pricing reflects the materials and construction methods used, with local leather boots starting at $195. Imported leather boots begin at $400, while shell cordovan options start at $750. Exotic leather variants command premium pricing starting at $1,350. All pricing includes shipping, reflecting the company's direct-to-consumer model and Made to Order approach.

The pricing structure allows the company to serve different market segments while maintaining consistent quality standards across all offerings. The significant price variation between local and imported leather options reflects both material costs and the target audience for each category.