Full info:
https://www.stitchdownexpo.com

Sponsor page:
https://www.stitchdownexpo.com/sponsors-2026

Formerly called Stitchdown Boot Camp. It’s two days of makers, boots, leather, tanneries, and other related items, this year with the Super Trunk Show. Makers will be providing sizing, with many having try-on pairs. There will be live shoemaking and repair demos.

AVAILABLE TICKETS:

General Access Pass:
Friday Expo + Night Market (2–9pm)
Saturday Expo (11am–6pm)
Access to all the makers, brands, tanneries, demos, and general programming
Food and drinks available to buy

Early Access Pass:
Same as General Access plus 2-hour early entry Saturday at 9am
First crack at sizing stations
First access to any class sign-ups
Priority shopping before the General Access crowd

Collector Pass:
Everything in Early Access
VIP “Meet the Makers” and Tanneries session Friday 12–2pm
Invite to Stitchdown Shoecast LIVE Thursday evening (6–8pm)
VIP Wrap Party Saturday night (6–10pm) with complimentary beer/wine
Priority registration for Chicago School of Shoemaking classes

Optimo Hat Factory Tour Pass:
Everything in Early Access
VIP Wrap Party Saturday with beer/wine
Thursday Optimo Hat Factory Tour (1–6pm) that includes a Saphir shoe shine masterclass and cocktail reception hosted by Kirby Allison
Same priority class registration

Horween Insider Pass: Sold Out
Everything in the Collector Pass
Choice of a multi-hour Horween Leather Co. tour (Thursday or Friday morning, small group)
Dedicated Q&A with them
Complimentary beer at the Expo

CURRENT SPONSOR LIST:

FOOTWEAR MAKERS:

• 1DAMN8NVISION
https://www.instagram.com/1damn8nvision

• BLKBRD Shoemaker
https://us.blkbrdshoemaker.com/

• Bridlen
https://bridlen.com/

• Calzoleria Carlino
https://calzoleriacarlino.com/

• Caswell Bootmakers
https://caswellbootmakers.com/

• CNES Shoemaker
https://www.cnes.co/

• Crown Northampton
https://crownnorthampton.com/en-us

• E. Woodford & Sons
https://www.ewoodford.com/

• Emi Bespoke
https://www.instagram.com/emi.and_bespoke/

• Grant Stone
https://www.grantstoneshoes.com/

• Iron Boots
https://iron-boots.com/

• Johnny’s (JohnnyWorks)
https://johnny-boots.myshopify.com/

• KLH Bespoke Shoes (Korbinian Ludwig Hess)
https://klh-massschuhe.com/

• Lennertson
https://lennertson.com/

• Mogada
https://mogada.de/

• Nicks Handmade Boots
https://nicksboots.com/

• Ostmo Bootmaker
https://www.ostmoboots.com/

• Peter Limmer & Sons
https://limmerboots.com/

• Peter Qu
https://www.peterqu.com/

• Red Wing Heritage
https://www.redwingshoes.com/

• Renav Goods
https://www.instagram.com/renavgoodsco

• Russell Moccasin Co.
https://russellmoccasin.com/

• Sanjar Leather Works
https://www.instagram.com/kurbanovsanjar/

• Schuh-Bertl
https://schuhbertl.com/

• Seres Footwear
https://seresfootwear.com/

• Twinkima.G
https://twinkimag.com/

TANNERIES:

• American Tanning & Leather
https://amtan.com/

• Conceria Incas
https://www.iniziativeconciarieassociate.it/en/

• Conceria Orice
https://www.orice.com/

• Cuoificio La Querce
http://www.laquerce.it/en/

• Hermann Oak Leather
https://www.hermannoakleather.com/

• Horween Leather Co.
https://www.horween.com/

• S.B. Foot Tanning Co.
https://www.sbfoot.com/

• Shinki-Hikaku
https://shinki-hikaku.jp/

• Thiele Tanning Co.
https://www.thieletanning.com/

• Tochigi Leather
https://www.tochigi-leather.co.jp/

• Wickett & Craig
https://wickett-craig.com/

LEATHER DISTRIBUTORS AND SUPPLIERS:

• Growing Grass
https://www.ggrass.org/

• Hashimoto Industry
https://hashimotoindustry.com/en/

• Keystone Leather
https://www.keystoneleather.com/

• The Tannery Row
https://www.thetanneryrow.com/

SHOE AND LEATHER CARE:

• Boot Black
https://bootblackusa.com/

• Meltonian
https://meltonian.com/

• Pure Polish Products
https://www.purepolishproducts.com/

• Saphir Médaille d’Or
https://saphir.com/

COBBLERS AND SHOE REPAIR:

• Bedo’s Leatherworks
https://leatherrepair.com/

• Dimar Shoe Repair
https://www.dimarshoerepair.com/

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND MACHINERY:

• Landis International
https://www.landis.world/en

COMPONENTS:

• Lactae Hevea
https://lactae-hevea.com/

• Pedag
https://pedagusa.com/

• Pisgah Range
https://www.pisgahrangeltd.com/

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES:

• Addict Clothes
https://www.addict-clothes.com/

• Black Lotus Leather
https://blacklotusleatherco.com/

• Charles Paige Atelier
https://charlespaige.com/

• Dapper Woodworks
https://www.dapperwoodworks.com/

• Divij Bespoke
https://www.divij.com/

• Evermore Leatherwork
https://www.etsy.com/shop/EvermoreLeatherwork

• Luke’s Custom Belts
https://lukescustombelts.de/en/

• Oak & Oscar
https://oakandoscar.com/

• Production Mode
https://www.productionmodechicago.com/

ORGANIZATIONS:

• Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts
https://chicagoschoolofshoemaking.com/

Boxes full of my Pana favorites: apple fritters, buttermilk cake and kronuts. Unlike yeast donuts from some other local places, these still taste good for several days. I was just on their website and didn’t realize they have so many locations now.

Passes are now available for the Stitchdown Expo Chicago 2026 and Super Trunk Show happening November 6-7 at Artifact Events.

Formally called Stitchdown Boot Camp, It’s two days of makers, boots, leather, tanneries, and other related items. Makers will be providing sizing with many having try on pairs. There will be live shoemaking and repair demos.

This year Stitchdown is teaming up with the Super Trunk crew (Kirby Allison, Shoegazing, The Shoe Snob)

Available Passes:

General Access Pass
Friday Expo + Night Market (2–9pm)
Saturday Expo (11am–6pm)
Access to all the makers, brands, tanneries, demos, and general programming
Food and drinks available to buy

Early Access Pass
Same as General Access plus 2-hour early entry Saturday at 9am
First crack at sizing stations
First access to any class sign-ups
Priority shopping before the General Access crowd

Collector Pass
Everything in Early Access
VIP “Meet the Makers” and Tanneries session Friday 12–2pm
Invite to Stitchdown Shoecast LIVE Thursday evening (6–8pm)
VIP Wrap Party Saturday night (6–10pm) with complimentary beer/wine
Priority registration for Chicago School of Shoemaking classes

Optimo Hat Factory Tour Pass
Everything in Early Access
VIP Wrap Party Saturday with beer/wine
Thursday Optimo Hat Factory Tour (1–6pm) that includes a Saphir shoe shine masterclass and cocktail reception hosted by Kirby Allison
Same priority class registration

Horween Insider Pass
Everything in the Collector Pass
Choice of a multi-hour Horween Leather Co. tour (Thursday or Friday morning, small group)
Dedicated Q&A with them
Complimentary beer at the Expo

Current Sponsor List - More to come

Footwear Makers

* Bridlen
* Caswell Boot Co.
* CNES Shoemaker
* Crown Northampton
* E. Woodford
* Emi Bespoke
* Grant Stone
* Johnny’s
* KLH
* Lennertson
* Nick’s Boots
* Peter Limmer & Sons
* Peter Qu
* Red Wing Heritage
* Renav
* Russell Moccasin
* Schuh Bertl
* Twinkima G.
* White’s Boots

Tanneries

* Cuoificio La Querce
* Hermann Oak Leather Co.
* Horween Leather Co.
* S.B. Foot Tanning Co.
* Shinki-Hikaku Co. Ltd.
* Theile Tanning Co.
* Tochigi Leather

Leather Distributors & Suppliers

* Hashimoto Industry
* The Tannery Row

Shoe & Leather Care Products

* Boot Black
* Meltonian
* Pedag
* Saphir Médaille d’Or

Cobblers & Shoe Repair Services

* Bedo’s Leatherworks
* Dimar Shoe Repair

Equipment, Tools & Machinery

* Landis International
* Lisa Sorrell

Clothing and Accessories

* Addict Clothing
* Black Lotus Leather
* Charles Paige
* Dapper Woodworks
* Evermore
* Divij Bespoke
* Luke’s Custom Belts
* The Tie Bar

Organizations

* Growing Grass

Stitchdown Expo Chicago 2026 Tickets On Sale Now

Tickets are now on sale for the Stitchdown Expo Chicago 2026 happening November 6-7 at Artifact Events.

Full info here: \[https://www.stitchdownexpo.com\\\](https://www.stitchdownexpo.com)

Formally called Stitchdown Boot Camp, It’s two days of makers, boots, leather, tanneries, and other related items. Makers will be providing sizing with many having try on pairs. There will be live shoemaking and repair demos.

Available Tickets:

General Access Pass
Friday Expo + Night Market (2–9pm)
Saturday Expo (11am–6pm)
Access to all the makers, brands, tanneries, demos, and general programming
Food and drinks available to buy

Early Access Pass
Same as General Access plus 2-hour early entry Saturday at 9am
First crack at sizing stations
First access to any class sign-ups
Priority shopping before the General Access crowd

Collector Pass
Everything in Early Access
VIP “Meet the Makers” and Tanneries session Friday 12–2pm
Invite to Stitchdown Shoecast LIVE Thursday evening (6–8pm)
VIP Wrap Party Saturday night (6–10pm) with complimentary beer/wine
Priority registration for Chicago School of Shoemaking classes

Optimo Hat Factory Tour Pass
Everything in Early Access
VIP Wrap Party Saturday with beer/wine
Thursday Optimo Hat Factory Tour (1–6pm) that includes a Saphir shoe shine masterclass and cocktail reception hosted by Kirby Allison
Same priority class registration

Horween Insider Pass
Everything in the Collector Pass
Choice of a multi-hour Horween Leather Co. tour (Thursday or Friday morning, small group)
Dedicated Q&A with them
Complimentary beer at the Expo

Current Sponsor List - More to come

Footwear Makers

* BLKBRD Footwear
* Bridlen
* Caswell Boot Co.
* CNES Shoemaker
* Crown Northampton
* E. Woodford
* Emi Bespoke
* Grant Stone
* Johnny’s
* KLH
* Lennertson
* Nick’s Boots
* Peter Limmer & Sons
* Peter Qu
* Red Wing Heritage
* Renav
* Russell Moccasin
* Schuh Bertl
* Twinkima G.
* White’s Boots

Tanneries

* Cuoificio La Querce
* Hermann Oak Leather Co.
* Horween Leather Co.
* S.B. Foot Tanning Co.
* Shinki-Hikaku Co. Ltd.
* Theile Tanning Co.
* Tochigi Leather

Leather Distributors & Suppliers

* Hashimoto Industry
* The Tannery Row

Shoe & Leather Care Products

* Boot Black
* Meltonian
* Pedag
* Saphir Médaille d’Or

Cobblers & Shoe Repair Services

* Bedo’s Leatherworks
* Dimar Shoe Repair

Equipment, Tools & Machinery

* Landis International
* Lisa Sorrell

Clothing and Accessories

* Addict Clothing
* Black Lotus Leather
* Charles Paige
* Dapper Woodworks
* Evermore
* Divij Bespoke
* Luke’s Custom Belts
* The Tie Bar

Organizations

* Growing Grass

The Stridewise video is a pretty good overview of what Grant Stone Boots are and what they aren’t for those that are curious.

https://youtu.be/-QgHKMEZnB0?is=bUQQbqAq-uBFhtTe

This project of many firsts for me. I addition to it being my first sheath it’s also my first wet molding, first time using a resist and using liver of sulfer to patina the copper rivets. This was a bit of a rush job and the rear piece of leather with the belt loops could use a bit more finishing work to make its line look better. It turned out better than I expected though.

Just got the email. Fortunately for my pocketbook there isn’t anything on my GS wish list.

My wife and I made these as part of the Beautiful Bag 1 class at the Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts. We also made a stop by The Tannery Row and picked up scraps and a discounted Horween Natural Dublin hide for some projects using our newly acquired skills.

I see a lot of responses to Caswell posts where the replies lament the fact the Ready to Wear drops aren’t available in wide sizes. Caswell does offer them when they do pre-orders and this is a pretty nice looking design. It’s based on the M1917 Trench Boot and comes in British Tan English Bridle from Hermann Oak.