The buck stops here

Urbane Los Angeles-based menswear brand strolls into buzzy Montrose mixed-use development

Buck Mason is coming to Montrose.

A Los Angeles-based menswear brand is coming to Houston. Buck Mason will open its first Bayou City outpost in the Montrose Collective mixed-use development.

Slated to open in spring 2022, Buck Mason has leased the 1,300-square-foot space at 906 Westheimer Rd. that's currently occupied by Hue Salon, which will relocate to a larger space within the new development. The two-story building, which will also be home to a location of Austin-based bar Idle Hands, dates back to the 1940s.

Founded in 2013 by Erik Allen Ford and Sasha Koehn, Buck Mason specializes in wardrobe staples such as t-shirts, jeans, button down shirts, and chinos. The company makes all of its products in Los Angeles.

"I had this idea of what I wanted my closet to look like, the absolute classics in tried-and-true colors, made to stand the test of time," Ford told Forbes in 2018. "I guess that’s all Buck is, my dream closet."

Located near the intersection of Montrose and Westheimer, Montrose Collective will be home to 25 restaurant and retail concepts, plus offices and a branch of the Houston Public Library. Previously announced tenants include a third Houston location of Brooklyn-based ice cream shop Van Leeuwen and a new Italian restaurant from Loch Bar owners Atlas Restaurant Group.

Developer Radom Capital enlisted the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture to design the Montrose Collective. The firm, which also worked with Radom on its MKT Heights project, has created a design that preserves the properties oak trees and promotes walkability with wide, covered walkways, a central parking garage, and 24-hour security.

“Buck Mason is the perfect addition to Montrose Collective,” said Steve Radom, managing principal of Radom Capital, in a statement. “Sasha and Erik have created a timeless brand known for its high-quality, well-made fashion staples, and they will be the perfect addition to the neighborhood.”

shopping new-york-fashion-week

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.

custom boots in houston houston custom boots alligator boots republic boot company