Tecovas, the direct-to-consumer handmade western boot brand, raised $1.8 million in funding to expand its inventory, consumer reach and team, as well as fund working capital. The funding was led by Blue Seed Collective and Brian Spaly, founder of Bonobos and founder & CEO of Trunk Club. Spaly also joins as a Tecovas board member.
The Austin, TX-based brand launched in fall 2015 with the goal of redefining the luxury western footwear market, offering classic, high-quality boots at prices unattainable through traditional retail models.
“As a quickly growing, digitally native brand, Tecovas is laser focused on developing quality product and growing our brand community through creative outreach and consumer experience,” said Paul Hedrick, Tecovas founder, CEO and native Texan. “While we’ve continued to reach and attain ambitious goals over the past year, it has always been important to us to operate in a lean and prudent manner. Our seed funding partners’ support will enable us to grow our core Tecovas team and bring beautiful cowboy boots to more consumers across the country.”
Designed in Austin and crafted in León, Mexico, Tecovas boots are handmade in one of the oldest bootmaking factories in the world by a team of artisans. Using a more than 200-step process, each Tecovas boot is crafted using custom tanned leathers, restoring traditional quality to the western boot.
“The cowboy boot is a timeless and iconic symbol of American style. It is perfectly positioned to disrupt the traditional players and deliver better value direct to the consumer,” said Spaly.
