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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LEATHER & LUXE

Heritage leather brand opens appointment-only boutique in River Oaks

Photo courtesy of Ghurka

Ghurka’s new River Oaks boutique brings its signature leather goods and custom clothing to Houston.

The heritage leather brand Ghurka recently opened a River Oaks boutique that offers custom clothing for men and women, a rare find in Houston’s luxury market.

For more than 50 years, Ghurka has built a reputation for beautifully crafted leather goods. Now, Houstonians have a new way to experience its collections.

Its new River Oaks boutique, one of only two brick-and-mortar outposts in the country, brings the label’s signature leather collection together with custom clothing and private styling, creating a personal shopping experience.

At the appointment-only store, clients can shop for leather bags and accessories while also working one-on-one with an advisor to create custom tailoring, shirting, knitwear, and other pieces curated to their specific needs and lifestyle. Houstonians will also be among the first to see Ghurka's expanded clothing offering with the debut of the Fall/Winter 2026 custom collection.

“For us, the decision to open in Houston really came down to people and relationships,” Glenn Pollack, chairman and CEO of Ghurka, tells CultureMap. “Ghurka has a meaningful history here and longstanding relationships with people who know the brand and what it stands for. As we considered returning to physical retail, we wanted to start in markets where we had the right talent, the right relationships, and a strong foundation to build on. Houston gave us all three.”

Ghurka Ghurka's appointment-only River Oaks boutique is located at 3701 W. Alabama, Suite 185. Appointments are available online. Photo courtesy of Ghurka

Founded in Connecticut in 1975, Ghurka's main focus is on leather goods designed to improve with time and wear. Its product range run the gamut from bags and backpacks to wallets, belts, and accessories. The brand is now applying that successful philosophy to clothing, with a focus on premium materials, durable construction, and pieces designed around the individual rather than trends.

Clients can work with a Gurkha advisor to decide what they need from their wardrobes before choosing fabrics, silhouettes, proportions, and bespoke details. Each piece is fully custom and finished by hand and according to Pollack, the goal of the appointment-only Houston boutique is to provide shoppers with a complete experience and a personalized level of attention.

“For us, custom clothing is ultimately about the individual rather than a particular gender,” Pollack said. “The same principles that have guided Ghurka for more than fifty years translate naturally into clothing. Offering custom for both men and women allows us to create a much more complete and personal relationship with our clients.”

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Ghurka Houston, 3701 W. Alabama St., Suite 185. Appointments are available through ghurka.com.

Photo courtesy of Ghurka

Ghurka’s new River Oaks boutique brings its signature leather goods and custom clothing to Houston.

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