best foot forward

Socially conscious Texas footwear brand launches fall collection with new focus

With social consciousness stitched into its DNA, Dallas-based footwear brand Hari Mari has a history of doing good. Ever since co-founders Jeremy and Lila Stewart started the company in 2012, they've helped kids around the world through their Flops Fighting Cancer initiative.

This fall, they are using the launch of a new collection to shine a light on another cause they are passionate about: truth and redemption in the criminal justice system. Hari Mari has chosen exonerated Texas athlete Greg Kelley as the face of a campaign for their new men's boot collection.

A former up-and-coming high-school athlete in the Austin area, Kelley spent seven years of combined prison and bond time after being wrongfully convicted of child sexual assault. He was exonerated and fully pardoned by the state in November 2019. Kelley is the subject of Showtime's documentary series Outcry.

"Over the years, freedom was something that hung in the balance for me," says Kelley in a press release for Hari Mari. "I've come to learn, when you're dealt a bad hand in a specific season of life, freedom is the most important thing. It's all I cared about when all else was stripped away."

To amplify Kelley's message of positivity, truth, and redemption, Hari Mari tapped Kelley and his wife, Gaebri, to model for a photoshoot and video featuring the new men's collection.

Best known for flip-flops, Hari Mari launched its first men's shoe collection to much fanfare last year. This fall, expanded offerings include boots, chukkas, and runners in new materials and colors. Two highlights from the collection, the Waxed CanyonTrek Chukka and Adobe Desert Boots, feature water-treated waxed suede with premium pig leather linings and molded OrthoLite foam footbeds.

Styles range from $120-$220 and are available at HariMari.com.

The Stewarts say that as fellow Texans, they've been inspired by Kelley’s perseverance, resilience, and character.

"[Having Kelley represent the brand] is an opportunity for us to continue to use Hari Mari as a catalyst for good," says Lila Stewart. "Of all the documentaries I've seen, I think I was most moved after watching Outcry. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Greg's story is one of hope and inspiration."

The Kelleys now reside in Michigan, where Greg is attending Eastern Michigan University on a full scholarship, fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing college football.

As with all the company sales, Hari Mari will donate 1 percent of every pair of shoes sold from the new collection to help those battling pediatric cancer, through Flops Fighting Cancer.

Exonerated Texas athlete Greg Kelley is the face of Hari Mari's new boot collection.

Photo courtesy of Hari Mari

Exonerated Texas athlete Greg Kelley is the face of Hari Mari's new boot collection.

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Stepping up

Texas bootmaker strikes a glossy note with the debut of new patent line

Photo courtesy of Miron Crosby

Miron Crosby reimagines its signature Maggie boot in high-gloss patent leather for a polished update.

Cowboy boots are based in tradition, but Miron Crosby continues to find ways to move the conversation forward. The Dallas-based label’s latest release, the Maggie Patent Collection, debuts a new material to its signature lineup while staying true to the workmanship that built its following.

The brand’s best-selling Maggie boot is now available in a high-gloss patent leather. Although the new finish changes the silhouette's tone, delivering a more fashion-forward take on Western footwear, the boot’s structure remains the same.

“Maggie is such a classic, flattering shape, so even when you introduce something like a patent, it still feels timeless at its core,” co-founder Sarah Means Ward tells CultureMap.

When designing the boot, the sisters were careful not to lean into trends. They focused on letting the material enhance the boot rather than redefine it. “We wanted it to feel elevated and refined instead of overly flashy,” says Ward.

Miron Crosby Maggie Patent New colorways Beurre, Sable, and Transformative Teal bring depth and shine to the Maggie Patent lineup.Photo courtesy of Miron Crosby

Texas has strong roots and ideas about Western wear, and introducing patent leather into a heritage category can come with risks. The sisters approached the new collection with a respect for tradition as their foundation.

“The craftsmanship, the construction, the way the boot fits and feels, those elements are non-negotiable,” Duplantis says. “From there, it’s about evolving the design in a way that still feels authentic.”

The look was first tested in 2019 when Miron Crosby worked with Prabal Gurung on a limited run of patent boots for his runway show. That collaboration allowed Miron Crosby to explore new materials, something the brand has continued to build on. With Maggie Patent, that early concept was refined into a boot designed for daily wear, not just for the runway.

“It showed us that something as unexpected as patent leather can feel completely natural in a Western silhouette when it’s approached thoughtfully,” says co-founder Lizzie Means Duplantis.

The collection is available at their River Oaks boutique, in three colorways: Beurre, Sable, and Transformative Teal, which were influenced by materials seen at the 2025 Lineapelle show in Milan.

“The patent leathers had this incredible richness that made us think about color in a different way,” Ward says.

The sisters chose colors that were naturally approachable. Neutral tones like Beurre and Sable are great for everyday wear, while Transformative Teal offers a statement moment. “Some days (our customer) wants something understated, other days she wants something that stands out,” says Duplantis. “This was about giving her both.”

Photo courtesy of Miron Crosby

Miron Crosby reimagines its signature Maggie boot in high-gloss patent leather for a polished update.

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