Lakeshore Boot

The Lakeshore Boot represents Oak Street Bootmakers' approach to American footwear manufacturing, utilizing traditional construction methods and premium materials including Horween Chromexcel leather and British Dainite soles. The boot is positioned as a heritage footwear option that bridges the gap between rugged workwear styling and refined dress boot aesthetics.

Oak Street Bootmakers was founded in Chicago in 2009 by George Vlagos, who comes from a family background in shoemaking. Vlagos's father was a cobbler, and George apprenticed at his father's shop, learning traditional shoemaking techniques from an early age. The company began production in 2010, establishing itself as a manufacturer dedicated to handcrafting 100% of its footwear in the United States.

The company's founding was driven by Vlagos's desire to create boots that were unavailable from existing American manufacturers at the time. His initial focus was on producing the Trench Boot, which he had been unable to find in the marketplace as early as 2006. This customer-driven approach to product development would later inform the creation of other models, including the Lakeshore Boot.

The Lakeshore Boot employs True Goodyear Welt construction, a method first developed in 1869 by Charles Goodyear Jr. Oak Street Bootmakers uses hand-lasting in their construction process, which allows shoemakers greater control over the boot's final shape and quality. This hand-lasting approach distinguishes the manufacturing process from machine-lasted production methods.

The boot's upper is crafted from Horween Chromexcel leather, manufactured by the Horween Leather Company using proprietary techniques developed over 100 years ago. The Chromexcel leather production process requires 89 individual steps and takes a minimum of 28 days to complete, involving both chrome and vegetable tanning methods.

The sole construction utilizes Dainite rubber-studded soles, which were first introduced in 1894 and continue to be manufactured in Leicestershire, England. These soles are reinforced with silica and aluminum silicate, providing durability and traction while maintaining the boot's heritage aesthetic.

Additional construction details include a Barbour Storm Welt with wheeling, full calfskin lining, and brass eyelets with speedhooks paired with waxed cotton laces. The boot is built on Oak Street Bootmakers' proprietary Lakeshore Last, which was designed to provide versatility for both professional and casual wear applications.

As of 2025, the Lakeshore Boot is priced at $518.00 for core Chromexcel leather styles. The boot is available in multiple leather options including Natural Chromexcel, Color 8 Chromexcel, Brown Chromexcel, and Black Chromexcel. Premium options feature French Calf leather from Tannerie d'Annonay.

The boot features a partially-structured cap-toe design and incorporates a stacked leather heel with Dainite toplift. The construction allows the boot to be fully recraftable, meaning it can be resoled and refurbished multiple times throughout its lifespan.

Hardware specifications include polished brass eyelets and speedhooks, with some colorway variations featuring brown brass hardware. The boot comes standard with waxed cotton laces and includes Oak Street Bootmakers' Factory Guarantee covering construction quality.