BUILT BY HAND. EVERY STEP.
THE BORDON JOURNEY
Why it takes months, not minutes
Order confirmed
Your reservation is locked in. We will send a confirmation with your full build spec. Thanks for the support.
Leather selection & Cutting
Your hide is pulled from our tannery stock and inspected by hand, checking for loose grain, growth marks, and inconsistencies that only show up under tension. Once cleared, our cutter reads the leather, mapping grain direction, scars, and stretch. Then cuts 16+ individual pieces by hand. No mass production. No templates. Every piece is placed to move and age the way it should.
Sewing
Those pieces become one upper through approximately 18 separate sewing operations; each seam reinforced, each stitch line planned for structure and movement. The lining is assembled separately, then married to the upper. Over 200 linear inches of thread per boot.
Lasting
The upper is pulled over our own last, designed in-house for a balanced fit that works across genders, foot shapes, and widths. This is where flat leather becomes a boot. Lasting happens in two stages: the heel is shaped first, then the leather rests overnight before the toe is lasted the following day. Wet leather can't be rushed!! It needs to set on its own terms. After both stages, the boot remains on for 3 to 4 days before proceeding. Nothing is glued. Everything is tension, nails, and time.
Soling
The upper gets its lips opened and folded outward. Cork, a leather shank, and a steel shank are set into the cavity; this is your arch support, built into the structure, not added as an afterthought. The outsole is laid and stitched through in a full stitchdown pass. Then the sole is cemented and stitched a second time, a double stitchdown. Two full rounds of stitching, where most boots get one. This is what makes your boots resoleable for decades and structurally sound from day one.
Heeling
The heel is built layer by layer — all leather, no rubber filler. Each layer is stacked, shaped, and nailed with over 10 individual nails per heel. The heel box is carved to set the angle and fit flush against the sole. This is one of the longest stages of the whole process.
Quality control & shipping
Every pair goes through different points of inspection by our head cobbler. Stitching tension, leather surface, sole alignment, hardware set, symmetry. If anything is off, it goes back to the bench. Only then are they ready to be yours! Built to back you on whatever comes next.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The break-in process
First contact
The leather is at its stiffest; this is normal. Wear for 2-3 hours at a time to let the boot start molding to your foot. Thick socks help. Don't go out with them yet.
Breaking open
The leather begins to flex at your natural creasing points. The insole starts taking the shape of your arch. Wear time can increase to full days.
Finding shape
The boot now moves with your foot, not against it. Hotspots are gone, the heel cup locks in, and the leather has developed its first patina lines.
Your boot now
Fully molded to your foot. No other pair will fit quite like this one. The leather is supple, the sole is gripping perfectly, and the patina is uniquely yours.
Most customers report their Bordons feel broken in within 3-4 weeks of daily wear. Take your time; each process is different, but once you break them in, you don't want to take them off.
The current production window is 9 months, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it may take longer. We are actively working to reduce this to six months by late 2026. You will be notified at each production milestone. Once you have placed your order, you will see the expected delivery time.
You can cancel within 48 hours of placing your order for a full refund. After that, because we've already begun sourcing materials for your specific build, cancellations are subject to a 35% restocking fee.
If you wear PNW boots, please choose your usual American Heritage boot size. So, for example, if you wear Nicks, Whites, or Red Wing Iron Rangers in 10 D/E, go with Bordon 43 E/10 E. Our last was developed to be well-balanced and fit most of the D-width-shaped feet.
If you haven't used an American Heritage boot brand, check the following instructions on how to do it.
You can also reach out to us directly, via email to (sizing.assessment@bordon.com.co), via website chat, or via WhatsApp, and we'll help you find the right fit.
Yes, we offer widths ranging from E to 6E; however, some of them incur an additional charge, which you will be aware of when you customize your boots. Few brands understand that each foot is unique, and a standard width will not work. Bordon is one of those brands that offers mismatched sizes and widths.
We offer one free exchange within 14 days of delivery for unworn boots in original condition. Because each pair is made to order, we work closely with you before production to minimize the chance of a sizing issue.
Every pair is handcrafted in Colombia by skilled artisans using traditional construction techniques. From cutting to lasting to stitching, each step is done by hand.
We do offer FREE worldwide shipping, but NOT free delivery. This means that we are in charge of the cost of transporting your boots from our factory in Colombia to wherever the place in the world you are, but you might have to pay some import duties, and it may vary from country to country. Check the next question to understand better how it works.
Import duties and taxes vary by country and are the responsibility of the buyer. Most customers in the US see duties between 5–10% of the order value. We ship with full customs documentation to make the process as smooth as possible.
MTO means made-to-order (MTO). This business model allows us to produce our boots on demand, reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability. Payment must be made 100% in advance.
Based on some events that occurred in 2024 and 2025, we decided to organize production in order to meet our goal of 6 months delivery time while reducing monthly orders to just 60 pairs per month. This will allow us to better organize our production and fulfill orders more quickly. This means that we will only receive 60 orders each month.
Yes, they are fully resolable; the stitch-down double-row design allows the cobbler to resole the boot by removing just the outer row that attaches the upper, midsole, and outsole. The cobbler only needs to remove the outer sole without compromising the upper's integrity.




