Role Club

The company operates from a workshop in South Central Los Angeles with a bootmaking history dating back to the 1930s. Role Club's mission statement is "Pride Produces Quality Work," reflecting the founder's commitment to preserving traditional American bootmaking craftsmanship through handmade construction methods.

Role Club was established when Brian Truong first encountered bootmaking on November 12, 2010, while visiting a shoe repair shop. Truong, who originally studied aeronautics, discovered bootmaking while searching for shoelaces to customize sneakers at home. He began apprenticing at the shop, initially on Sundays and later full-time, under the mentorship of Ignacio Palacios.

Palacios, Truong's teacher, began making boots at age eight in Guanajuato, Mexico, to support his impoverished family. The workshop space that houses Role Club has maintained a bootmaking tradition since the 1930s, housed in an old brick building with "botas" and "reparacion de calzado" hand-painted on the entrance.

Truong promised his mentor to "keep his trade alive," establishing the company's focus on preserving traditional bootmaking techniques. The business has operated for over 12 years as of 2024, gaining recognition through social media marketing and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Role Club maintains strict adherence to traditional handcraft methods, with Truong performing 100 percent of the work manually. Each pair of boots requires 45 hours of cutting, hammering, and sewing to complete a single order. The company's production philosophy eliminates outsourcing, ensuring complete control over quality and construction techniques.

The bootmaking process follows old-world approaches developed during the 1940s and 1950s, utilizing antique sewing machines and hand-cutting techniques. Truong hand-cuts leather and hand-welds boots using traditional tools and methods learned from his mentor. Each finished boot bears the marking "Handcrafted in Los Angeles," identifying the origin and construction method.

The limited production capacity results from the intensive labor requirements, with Role Club producing approximately 150 new pairs annually. This constraint has created a two-year waiting list for custom orders as of 2024, reflecting both demand and the company's commitment to individual craftsmanship over mass production.

Role Club focuses primarily on engineer boots, though the company offers several styles including chukkas, derby shoes, and lace-up boots. The engineer boot remains the core product, with designs inspired by 1940s workman style and classic aesthetics from that era. Truong describes engineer boots as "the epitome of classic," noting they represent "modern and vintage meet together in perfect unison."

The company produces made-to-measure boots requiring custom measurements for each foot. Bespoke engineer boots are priced at approximately $2,000, reflecting the extensive hand-labor and premium materials used in construction. All boots feature 1940s-style design elements that accommodate leather-stacked woodsman heels and vintage-inspired hardware.

Role Club also creates custom half-soles and heels, along with boot repair services. The product range extends beyond footwear to include t-shirts and accessories, though boots remain the primary focus of production and expertise.

Role Club sources raw materials primarily from Horween Leathers in Chicago, though the company has begun experimenting with Italian leather shipped from Maryam Tannery. The boots utilize full-grain leather construction with specific attention to material selection and quality standards.

Construction details include solid brass roller buckles and woodsman heels that provide vintage flair to the engineer boot design. The boots feature up to four rows of hand stitching that flow artfully up and down the leather surface. Traditional construction techniques emphasize detailed craftsmanship and customized fit for individual customers.

The company maintains its commitment to using only the highest quality materials, with material selection forming a critical component of the 40-plus hours of labor invested in each pair. Truong's approach emphasizes material authenticity and construction techniques that reflect 1940s and 1950s bootmaking standards.

Role Club operates from 2307 1/2 Maple Avenue in South Central Los Angeles, occupying an old brick building that houses the traditional workshop environment. The location provides continuity with historical bootmaking traditions, maintaining equipment and techniques that span multiple decades of craft development.

Truong's business philosophy centers on artistic integrity and preservation of traditional craft techniques. He states, "I care more about the art of it and keeping it classy," emphasizing quality over commercial expansion. The founder believes imperfections contribute to the charisma of handmade design, noting, "I realized that those imperfections are the charisma behind the design."

The company's approach prioritizes traditional boot styles like engineer and paratrooper boots over contemporary fashion trends. Truong's philosophy includes appreciating classic design elements, stating, "I appreciate the style and I just appreciate classic things. I wanted to do something in my life where I can make it my own and I can make it classic."

Role Club's business model deliberately maintains small-scale production to preserve craft quality and individual attention to each commission. This approach reflects Truong's commitment to keeping traditional bootmaking techniques alive while serving customers who value handcrafted heritage footwear.