1930s Engineer Boots

KIND's 1930s Engineer Boots resulted from over two years of research and development. The design process involved hours of design iterations, redesign work, and numerous pattern adjustments with multiple sample builds. The boots were developed through careful examination of several pairs of vintage engineer boots from KIND's archive, representing the company's commitment to historically-informed design.

The boots are available in two primary leather options. The Italian vegetable tanned leather uses natural tanning materials including tree bark, oak, spruce bark, quebracho, tara pods, olive leaves, rhubarb roots, or mimosa placed in pits along with the hides. This vegetable tanning process allows for thicker leather with more body and character compared to other tanning methods. The leather develops a rich patina over time and has the traditional leather smell associated with vegetable-tanned hides.

The Horween Chromexcel option provides an alternative material choice. Chromexcel is a rich pull-up leather manufactured through numerous processes and heavy machinery requiring highly skilled professionals. The leather features full aniline finishing, considered one of the most expensive and visually appealing finishing methods available.

The boots utilize KIND's proprietary KMW last, which provides a width between D and E width measurements. This sizing system was developed based on KIND's experience as a boots supplier for brands including Red Wing, Wesco, Thorogood, and Danner since 2014. The KMW last eliminates the need for customers to choose width, allowing them to focus solely on foot length when selecting size.

For customers requiring E size width boots, the sizing matches the normal E size of other boot brands but includes a slightly wider footstep of approximately 0.1 to 0.3 cm. Custom sizing is available for customers whose foot size does not appear on the standard size chart.

The boots are made to order with processing times ranging from two to five working weeks depending on order volume and customization requirements.

Engineer boots as a style emerged on the market in the mid to late 1930s. During this period, the Chippewa Shoe Manufacturing Company developed boots with stovepipe shafts based on the design of English horse-riding boots. The West Coast Shoe Company (Wesco) began manufacturing their engineer boots in 1939. The first companies to produce engineer boots were Wesco and Chippewa, introducing the style between 1937 and 1939.

Engineer boots were originally designed as protective gear for firemen working on steam railway engines. The minimal stitching and pull-on design made them ideal for working in conditions with hot coals, embers, and sharp edges. The tall, laceless design prevented hot coals and sparks from falling into the boots, while the pull-on construction allowed workers to quickly remove boots if burning embers did manage to get inside.

Original engineer boots were almost always black in color with bulbous toes and thick leather soles. The heels measured approximately one-and-three-quarter inches in height with a slight forward slant, and the heel edges featured a concave profile. Some early models were customized with studded straps or cleats for additional functionality.

KIND operates under the mission statement "Be the kind human." The company consistently selects organic materials to reduce waste and maintain environmental responsibility. For every item sold from their house brand products, KIND plants two trees through collaboration with One Tree Planted, an environmental organization sharing the company's conservation values. Additionally, KIND sends one percent of total sales to Life Vest Inside, partnering with organizations that share their commitment to social responsibility and community support.