One local business is a bit more unique to Lamesa and has only been around for a little over a year. It’s a boot repair and leather shop, but they specialize in custom boot making.

“We built art you can wear here at RK Custom Boots,” say owners Rick and Kathy McCarty. “What we do is we measure your foot in nine different places, then would put you on a pedigraph and see where the pressure points are. We would build a shoe form or a boot form, that is called a last and looks like your foot. Then, we build a boot over top of it,” they say.

From start to finish the entire process takes 40 hours a pair, and keeps the McCarty’s pretty busy.

“It’s just something that’s inside here…it’s the heart of what we’re working on, which is taking care of people, meeting their needs, and still producing something that’s very attractive,” Rick says.

The boots can be made using domestic leather such as cowhide or exotic leathers ranging from stingray to elephant to ostrich skin. The McCarty’s can even sew, tool, or paint intricate details onto the boots.

“Our average boot start price is $1,200. They cost more than shelf boots, but they fit right to your foot when you walk out of the shop and last 5 to 7 years if you wear them every day,” Rick says.

Aside from boot making, the McCarty’s can pretty much do anything involving leather. The couple makes bible covers, wallets, belts, and holsters, just to name a few.

“I work on boots, shoes, purses, you name it. Anything that’s in leather, I can repair, patch, or create,” Kathy says.

“The leather work and stuff I’ve been doing since I was 11 years old, but the actual boot creation has been a little over a year,” Rick says.

Right now, it’s just the two of them, but their son helps out and is also learning the trade. The couple went through a rigorous 2-week program to learn how to make boots. They say after 32 years of marriage, the key to success is communication.

“We’ve worked together so long that we know he can start a sentence and I can finish it. Now, there are times that we do have different opinions, but we don’t do a knock-down-drag-out. We talk about it. We get mad, we get happy, and we just work through it,” Kathy says.

“The nice thing about working with your spouse is that they will always give you the truth of their opinion, whether you like it or not,” Rick says.

It’s a true passion for boot making that keeps the McCarty’s going and their customers happy.

“We can talk about it all day long and we won’t get tired of talking about it, because it’s our life, and we just like doing it,” they say.