get some nollege

Edgy, Texas-based footwear and streetwear brand strolls into The Heights

As any fashionista knows, more casual looks during the pandemic mixed with a growing young demographic have sparked a rise in streetwear all over.

Here in Houston, locals can soon get their kicks thanks to a Dallas-based brand headed to The Heights.

Nollege, which boasts a significant Texas following, will open its first Houston location in the buzzy Heights development, M-K-T ((600 N Shepherd Dr., Building One ).

Shoppers can expect exclusive brand sneakers, streetwear (including popular, vibrant T-shirts, hoodies, and hats), and vintage items, especially classic sports tees. Supreme accessories such as phone cases and even chopsticks will also be available, per a press release.

In addition to its in-house, sought-after brand items, the store will also offer streetwise, curated looks from Bape, Nike, Off White, New Balance, Jordan, Crocs, and Adidas.

Nollege, a Texas success story, is the brainchild of childhood friends Eugene Valle, Edgar Ventura, Cristian Guzman, and Ansh Shah. The group launched the business in a friend’s house and later moved to a brick-and-mortar space in the hip Dallas neighborhood, Deep Ellum (2602 Main St.)

“We’re excited to expand our brand in Houston which is a staple in Texas and wouldn’t want to do a second location anywhere else,” said Eugene Valle, president of Nollege, in a press release. “Not only to be able to do this in Houston but to be in M-K-T and share this place with other great brands will definitely be an experience in itself.”

Get your kicks at the new store.

Photo courtesy of Nollege

Get your kicks at the new store.

trends the-heights shopping openings

boots with a story

Houston bootmaker offers $5,000 cowboy boot and gator hunt adventure

Photo courtesy of Republic Boot Company

Houston bootmaker, Republic Boot Company, turns gator hunts into a custom pair of boots.

In Houston, where custom boots are a source of great pride and style, one local brand is taking the bespoke boot experience to a new level. Republic Boot Company, known for its elevated, hand-crafted creations, just launched a Gator Hunt Experiencewhere customers can source an alligator hide, which will be transformed into a pair of cowboy boots.

Part adventure and part traditional craftsmanship, the experience begins with a hunt in the marshlands near Anahuac, about an hour from Houston, and ends with a custom-made pair of alligator-skin cowboy boots tailored to the client's vision by a Republic Boot Company boot specialist.

"At Republic Boot Company, we pride ourselves on crafting boots that are not just footwear, but a legacy," said Chris Conrad, owner of Republic Boot Company. "This new Gator Hunt Experience takes that commitment to personalization to an unprecedented level, offering our customers a unique and memorable journey taking them from the bayou to the heart of the Bayou City."

The gator hunt is $5,000 per person and includes an 8.5-foot alligator (larger alligators incur extra costs). Individuals of all experience levels can participate, and all necessary permits and equipment are provided to ensure a safe adventure. After the hunt, the hide will be tanned during an eight-month process to ensure a one-of-a-kind pair of boots. Just in case the kicks aren't enough of a conversation starter, participants will also receive a professional mount of the alligator head.

Alligator hunting season runs from September 11 to September 30, so the boots won't be ready for the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Once they are complete, however, they will be wearable pieces of art with a memorable story behind them. Those interested in extending their only-in-Texas half-day hunt into an overnight experience can book overnight accommodations through Republic Boot Company.

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