Oak Street Bootmakers REBUILDING THE FOOTWEAR LANDSCAPE

Longtime Chicago-area shoe repairman John Vlagos chuckles recalling his reaction upon first learning that his son, George, was starting the handmade footwear business, Oak Street Bootmakers. “I freaked out, you know,” says the father, with obvious pride in his son’s success.

“THERE’S A RICH LEGACY IN AMERICAN SHOEMAKING, AND OAK STREET BOOTMAKERS WANTS TO PRESERVE THAT HERITAGE. I’M COMMITTED TO HELPING TO BUILD BACK MUCH OF THAT FOOTWEAR LANDSCAPE THAT HAS DISAPPEARED.”
—GEORGE VLAGOS, FOUNDER, OAK STREET BOOTMAKERS

Founded in 2010, Oak Street ships its trench boots, penny loafers, camp mocs and other styles—made in America from 100% American materials—all over the world. Its brick-and-mortar store, Independence, is a Chicago shopping destination. And when the Maine factory that made its products closed down, George bought the facility and all its equipment, saving some of the jobs of skilled American workers that have