Exploring the world of made-to-order—or MTO—shoes and boots. How do you figure out what to make? Where do you start? Ticho and Ben break down their approaches and philosophies on MTO, plus which makers you should consider doing MTO with, and how much they cost.

Then as always, it's on to the Shoe Bag, in which we answer listener questions ranging from how to care for roughout boots, to the most versatile overall shoe for everyday wear.

Shoe/Bootmakers and Shops Mentioned in this Episode:
Viberg Boot
White's Boots
Wesco Boots
Nick's Boots
Frank's Boots
Drew's Boots
JK Boots
Mark Albert Boots
Onderhoud Handmade
Crockett & Jones
Sagara
Carmina
Vass
Truman
Thorogood
Grant Stone
Unmarked
Division Road
Baker's Boots & Clothing


Theme music: The Road by Punk Rock Opera

Support the Shoecast, get full bonus episode access, and join the most interesting shoe-and-boot-loving community on the internet with a Stitchdown Premium membership

https://www.stitchdown.com/join-stitchdown-premium/

We'd better see you at Stitchdown Chicago 2026—the world's fair of shoes and boots and leather and more—Nov 6-7 at Artifact Events.

https://www.stitchdownexpo.com/

A website. We have one.
https://www.stitchdown.com/

While it may take a true boot geek to realize it, Indonesian bootmakers create some of the best values in handwelted footwear—and at their best, they are truly beautiful sights to behold.

But how do you navigate Indonesia's dozens of bootmakers? Who to go with? How to order? What are they charging? Ben from @stitchdown and @tichoblancoshoes go deep on Indonesian boot culture and how it arose, plus the makers you should be considering. And like in every episode, your questions about shoes and boots, leather, care, and more are all answered with disturbing accuracy, in the Shoe Bag.

Indonesian Shoe and Bootmakers mentioned in this episode:
Onderhoud Handmade
Benzein Shoes
Sagara Bootmaker
Txture Shoe & Bootmaker
Winson Shoemaker
Junkard Co. Boots
Prof Barnets
Santalum
Renav Goods Company
Kabayz Company
Imperium
Hidalgo Boots
Monroe Heritage
Panama Heritage
Tahura Boots Company
Hidalgo Boots


Theme music: The Road by Punk Rock Opera

Support the Shoecast, get full bonus episode access, and join the most interesting shoe-and-boot-loving community on the internet with a Stitchdown Premium membership

https://www.stitchdown.com/join-stitchdown-premium/

We'd better see you at Stitchdown Chicago 2026—the world's fair of shoes and boots and leather and more—Nov 6-7 at Artifact Events.

https://www.stitchdownexpo.com/

A website. We have one.
https://www.stitchdown.com/