About our First Collection & Sustainability
We have been getting a lot of questions on social media about our first collection & about our sustainability & how we are different from other western shoe brands. So here is a run down from our founder Kirah perle.
About the First Collection:
This first collection was hand drawn and designed by kirah perle in her studio in colorado. After a year of carefully curating patterns, sourcing materials of the highest quality, and finding the right hands to craft the magic, 1991 came to life in the artisanal grounds of Leon, Mexico.
1991 is not just a brand, but a work of art. Each boot starts off as a digital piece designed by Kirah herself. Once all details, designs, and decisions are finalized, the boot making begins in the hands of experts. All cuts, threading, sourcing, and finishings are done in one workshop with care, time, and soul. From start to finish, a story has been written in each and every boot.
For our first collection we have only crafted 9 boots per boot design. making each boot limited edition.
for our first collection we are only offering whole sizes.we will eventually add on more sizes as we continue to grow. So if you don’t see your size please sign up to be on the waitlist so we can take that into account for our next collection. If you are a half size - size up in your boots! Our leather is so soft it will mold to your feet and you can always add shoe cushion inserts into your boots.
each of our boots come packaged with a sustainable tote bag too and reusable ribbon! (which you can use to tie a bow on your boots!)
1991 & Sustainability:
It was very important for kirah to use leather that was vegetable tanned dyed and sustainable. so she sourced vegetable tanned leather from one of the most sustainable leather tanneries in the world that are based out of leon, mexico. our leather hides come from U.S. meat packers, especially native heifers, native steers and jumbo steers. the leather tannery we work with tans the equivalent of 1,200 beef per day, preventing them from being sent to landfills. their raw material comes from areas that avoid soil erosion and illegal deforestation. The leather tannery is run by solar power & they save 300 cubic meters of water per month. 78% of their waste is recycled. 100% of their packaging is made from recycled materials.
Among their sustainable business practices they contribute to the community & help with reforestation, animal shelters, help paint & build schools within Mexico’s community & even help out senior living.
Kirah did a lot of research about sustainability and knew when she found this tannery that they aligned with her values. And where we are sourcing our leather from is of the upmost importance.
as a graphic designer and brand designer kirah sourced sustainable packaging, so all printed materials are made from recycled paper and we chose to use recyclable cardboard boxes. each boot order receives a sustainable tote bag to carry your boots in.
the boots are placed in plastic bags to protect them from environmental weather conditions when shipping. These plastic bags were provided to use directly from the boot makers. So we use the same bags so there is no extra plastic being ordered.
Among our vegetable tanned leather boots we offer hats and accessories. We do our best to outsource the most sustainable options when creating merchandise. it’s important for us to be conscientious about our material choices. We do our best to source 100% organic cotton materials. however, sometimes that option is not available in our desired color or desired product. So when we have to go to a 2nd resort, we opt for 100% cotton. While REcycled Polyester, is helpful to the environment, unfortunately polyester is made from plastics and is not biodegradable. It is so important for us to use natural materials like cotton, linen, bamboo, etc.
we also offer made-to-order for our merchandise so there is no waste in any of our merchandise or inventory. This is also extremely important to us. A huge part of why the fashion industry is the 2nd most pollutant industry in the world is because products end up in landfill.
While our phone cases are not necessarily sustainable — they are made to order and the are most durable phone cases. They will LASt years and years.
Longevity of products is very important to us. We want all of the products that we offer to be in your wardrobe and in your life for decades.
WhyVegetable Tanned Leather?
there is a lot of stigma around leather with veganism in the fashion industry. unfortunately most “Vegan leather” is actually created from synthetic materials, that derive from fossil fuels like petroleum. Authentic leather is a bi-product of the cattle industry. No cows are killed for our leather. The leather is what is left over from the meat industry. In addition, the production methods used to produce vegetable tanned leather are typically much more sustainable, and the longevity of the leather means that it will last longer and will not need to be replaced as often.
The mass production of leather can have serious environmental impacts, as can any mass manufactured product. However, there are more sustainable leather manufacturing options. By using the by-product of meat and dairy farming, making to order and not using harsh chemicals to tan the leather, the reduction in environmental impact is significant. Mix that with it being a natural and non-synthetic product, vegetable tanned leather becomes the most sustainable leather you can get. ( sourced from MAHI LEATHER )
the leather & cattle industry is essential to the livelihoods of communities all over the globe and as long as we continue to have a meat and dairy industry, the alternative of turning the hides into leather is to send them to landfill. In turning these hides into leather to make products such as cowgirl boots, the waste of these industries is greatly reduced.
Having been around for over 5000 years, vegetable tanning is the oldest and most sophisticated method of tanning. There is evidence of vegetable tanned leather being used in ancient Egypt from ornaments left on stone coffins.
How are we different than other boot brands?
I wanted to make 1991 vastly different than every cowboy and cowgirl boot brand out there. First, i wanted it to be fully sustainable, and 2nd i wanted it to be modern and sophisticated yet simple and minimalistic. Which I just felt like doesn’t exist in the industry. I want to create a brand far bigger than cowgirl boots. I don’t compete in western rodeos, I don’t train in western riding, I trail ride and I just love being in nature and riding horses. There is a lot of stigma in the cowboy and western culture. I just want to break the mould and be a brand that inspires all women from all over the world to reconnect with nature and maybe hop on a horse here and there, or farm your own food! The backbone to the brand is living a simple and slow life. I want to inspire all women to connect with nature and be in tune with the things that really matter in life. I want to inspire women to connect with their inner wisdom and their femininity. That’s why I created 1991.
Cowgirl boots for me are not only my favorite type of shoes to wear, they represent so much more. They represent a type of slower lifestyle, tradition, they connect me to nature and to horses, they are classic and they are never going out of style.
as the founder of 1991, I hope that we can continue to grow and create a beautiful community through this brand.
xo kirah perle
Thank you so much for reading & for your support!
If you have any questions please comment below.