SHELBI TIDWELL Back to her Boots

Back to her Boots

A dream come true for Tarleton alumna

BY SARAH BAHARI

Shelbi Tidwell has a clear memory of the cowboy boots.

They were a gift from her parents. The tops were orange, the toes skinny and square; they almost resembled riding boots. She was 12, and she hated them.

“You’re so picky,” her mother told her. “You should just design your own.”

So that is exactly what young Shelbi would grow up to do.

A 2016 Tarleton State University alumna, Tidwell is now a product developer and designer for Justin Brands, an American western and equestrian footwear company headquartered in Fort Worth.

“My mom’s words stuck with me,” she said. “Something clicked, and I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

Tidwell spends her days designing boots for the Justin lines Tony Lama and Nocona, traveling to shows and markets around the world, sketching ideas, meeting with clients and vendors, and researching new materials.

Among her designs are personalized boots for celebrities including Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Tidwell tries to incorporate a modern retro or new vintage look into her designs. When people wear her boots, she wants them to feel right.

“A boot should always be comfortable. That is the first test. I want people to feel good about themselves when they wear my designs.”

Tidwell herself has about 25 pair of cowboy boots, but she does have a favorite. The first pair she ever designed, made of alligator skin with turquoise and purple stitching, is tucked into her closet.

“They are too special to wear,” she said.

At Tarleton, Tidwell majored in family and consumer sciences with a focus on fashion design. She credited her professors for allowing her to explore western fashion design, which helped her land an internship with Justin Brands as a student.

After graduation, the company hired her full time.

“My professors believed in me and helped me get to where I am right now. They were so incredibly awesome in letting us pursue our own interests and dreams.”

Tidwell hopes to continue designing boots for years to come.

“Cowboy boots will always be a timeless classic, like blue jeans,” she said. “Everyone can wear them. They’ll never go out of style.”

“My professors believed in me and helped me get to where

I am right now. They were so incredibly awesome in letting us pursue our own interests and dreams.”

Shelbi Tidwell