Eugenia creates traditional American hand welted work boots with a refreshing Argentinian flair.
Gauchos Boots may seem very similar to many American boot shops at first glance: vintage tools lay on a well-worn work bench, piles of shoe lasts in the corner, bottles of waxes and dyes with unknown purpose. These small workshops blur the line between factory floor and artist studio, but Gauchos Boots workshop is special. Not only is it located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but the bootmaker is female.
Meet Eugenia
Eugenia was destined to work in the creative space. Getting started in shoemaking years ago, it wasn’t until recently that she turned her focus to traditionally made work boots.
“Since I was a little girl, I was very creative and an entrepreneur. My first project was at 6. I used to write a magazine printed by a dot matrix printer and sell it at school. I´ve always had projects and ideas floating in my mind.”
Of course, in a growing segment Eugenia has her work cutout for her. With emerging small shops and single-person brands from America, Indonesia, Mexico, and around the world, Gaucho will need to stand out.
Thankfully Gaucho boots are unique among the sea of copycat patterns, engineer boots, and service boots. A refreshing take on increasingly stale design formulas, as copies of copies tend to be. Eugenia lists Gabbard of Kreosote boots as an inspiration for his designs, which she refers to as art rather than clothing. Perhaps Gaucho’s unique take on work boots stems from Eugenias origins in the world of women’s fashion.
Starting in the world of fashion
“I decided to become a Fashion Stylist and I started to make editorials for some newspapers and magazines from here, working on runways and helping to make some brands campaigns. But I really wanted to start creating fashion, that was when I decided to become a shoe designer.“
It’s not difficult to see Eugenia’s roots in fashion, as evidenced by her effortlessly cool personal style of dress. She arrived to my home in Connecticut wearing and outfit which combined vintage and modern elements, one which would look at home at NYC fashion week or in her Argentine workshop. It’s the dichotomy of Eugenia, with her figure and style of a fashion model, and the hard work of hand making work boots which is so intriguing.
Finding love in shoemaking
It was romance which brought Eugenia to the world of work boots, as she wanted to make a pair for her love interest- a farmer from California. I came to understand just how personal making boots is for Eugenia- someone with a deep, metaphysical way about her which blends into her work.
“I try to show who my soul is in each model. I deep dive in a topic, I reseach, I experiment with materials and then I draw. I know I could make a simpler and more wearable model that many people could buy, but that is not fullfiling to me. I don’t care too much about how many sales I will have.This project to me is not about making a business, It went side by side with my own personal inner growth. I had to face challenges that helped me to know myself better, grow and be the person who I am now.”
“Most shoemakers were born in a shoemakers family, but I didn’t. My family is a middle class one, who are sure that studying a lot is the only way to survive in Argentina. My mum is Biochemist and my dad is an Electronic Engineer, so I was raised in a left brain sided family.“
Eugenia performs all the painstaking labor herself, constructing boots in a traditional way with many vintage tools. When each pair is nearly finished, she writes an individualized note beneath the insole for each customer.
“When I finish sewing the insole, it is a mix of emotions because my hands hurt and I also feel so satisfied and happy. In that exact time, I grab a marker and I like writing, always with good energy, a message on the insole. To me, it is like setting a good intention.”
Gauchos Boot Models
I was fortunate enough to see one of Gauchos new models called Tierra (translated to “Earth”). It’s easy to see the inspiration, as each element has the look of soil, dirt, and stone. A pronounced toe-bump is contrasted with a very soft and flexible roughout leather vamp to give these boots an aggressive profile.
These boots are definitely unique, evoking a feeling of something antique and rare. If you made this photo grayscale and told people they belonged to an 1800s coal miner, I think they’d believe you. It’s the details that make these special though. Each one being inspired by their name.
A separate leather strap is dyed with several elements including rust, and the eyelet is purposefully oxidized to maintain the look and earthen vibe.
Linen thread in an “X” pattern is used to hand-stitch the Argentinian buffalo leather upper.
The multi-toned heel stack is inspired by Vinicunca, or the Mountains of Seven Colors in Argentina.
Along with this model, Gaucho’s Boots offer another model called Marcha utilizing a WW2 military pocket on a taller green and black leather boot. Several of these models are out in the wild, on the feet of their proud owners.
The Bottom Line
Gaucho’s Boots and Eugenia are an encouraging sign that the world of boot making is growing into unexpected segments and markets. With legendary craftsmen like Gabbard and Lee Miller offering their tutelage, it’s safe to say that as Eugenia’s skills grow so will her client base. Proof that hard work, a unique vision, and dedication are still the building blocks of a great brand. Gaucho’s boots- we’ll be watching and cheering you on!
Where to find Eugenia and Gauchos Boots
Connect with Eugenia and discuss a custom boot with her below!
What is the name of her shop in Buenos Aires? I’d love to check it out while I’m Down there!