Built for the Long Haul: How White's Boots Became a Spokane Icon
For more than a century, White’s Boots has been handcrafting some of the most respected boots in the world right here in Spokane.
Long before Pacific Northwest boots became a category unto themselves, before online forums debated leather choices and before workwear became a runway fashion statement, White’s Boots was building footwear designed to withstand the toughest conditions imaginable.
Founded in 1853 and rooted in Spokane since 1901, White’s Boots has spent generations perfecting a craft that has remained virtually unchanged for almost two centuries: building boots by hand, one pair at a time.
When you step inside the company's Spokane headquarters and retail store near the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, you'll quickly discover that White's is preserving a piece of Spokane history.
“Over the 173 years, we really haven't changed how we make boots. Everything is hand-lasted, hand-bottomed, and hand-welted, stitch by stitch” says Whites Boots President and CEO Eric Kinney.
A Legacy That Helped Build the Pacific Northwest
White's story began on the East Coast before quickly following opportunity westward. In the late 1800s, Otto White and his father moved the company to Idaho to serve the booming mining communities of the inland Pacific Northwest, and eventually settled in Spokane, with a downtown storefront on the corner of Main and Stevens. The move proved to be a perfect fit.
Spokane was growing rapidly, powered by laborers and tradespeople who needed dependable gear to match demanding jobs. White's became an integral part of their story.
“Spokane was built by hardworking miners, loggers, and tradespeople. And White’s Boots has been on their feet since the early 1900s” notes Kinney.
More than a century later, the company remains deeply connected to that Spokane heritage. While other manufacturers have outsourced production or shifted to automated processes, White's continues to handcraft boots in Spokane using methods passed through generations of bootmakers.
Where Art Meets Organized Chaos
At White's, craftsmanship goes beyond the brand identity. It's part of the leadership. Eric Kinney started making boots shortly after graduating high school and spent 26 years on the factory floor before moving into leadership role. Today, he leads the company with a perspective few executives can claim: He's made the product himself.
“For almost our entire history, this company has been run by a bootmaker.” Kinney says, “We’re all shoemakers.”
That hands-on culture extends throughout the factory. Inside the production floor, cutters inspect hides, sewers assemble uppers, craftsmen hand-welt boots, and finishing specialists shape, sand, buff, and polish each pair. Nearly every employee plays a direct role in creating the final product. That philosophy has helped preserve what White's does best: passing skills and techniques from one generation of makers to the next.
A Restaurant That Means Something
Visitors are often surprised by what they find inside White's Spokane facility. Peering through the view windows from the retail sales floor into the factory, visitors will discover dozens of artisans working with tools and processes that have stood the test of time.
And while modern manufacturing often prioritizes speed, White's hands-on approach prioritizes craftsmanship.
In many cases, a single bootmaker is responsible for building an individual pair. Some customers even call requesting the same maker who crafted their previous boots. “There’s a little bit of a personal touch. People know somebody made their boots.”
It's that connection between maker and customer that has helped build White's extraordinary reputation.
Visitors can browse dozens of styles, learn about different leathers, get personalized sizing assistance, and gain a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind every pair.
It's part retail store, part working factory, and part living museum. And it's uniquely Spokane.
Energizing Spokane’s Culinary Community
Beyond Luna, Joe has also become known for helping spark collaboration throughout Spokane’s food scene.
Chef Joe is the founder of a collaborative movement he calls Culinary Dope, which allows him to work alongside fellow chefs, restaurants, and hospitality professionals to create dinner series, collaborations, competitions, and community events designed to keep Spokane's culinary culture moving forward. What began as healthy competition evolved into a sense of community.
“I want to come and work with you. I want to collaborate with you.” Joe says about the various personalities throughout Spokane’s culinary community
For Joe, that collaboration and community is about creating energy, introducing diners to new experiences and helping Spokane's food culture grow stronger. Whether collaborating with Radio Bar, Inland Pacific Kitchen, or other local culinary leaders, he views partnerships as opportunities to elevate the entire city.
The Boot That Became a Legend
Ask anyone at White's about the company's most iconic product, and you'll hear the same answer. The Smokejumper.
Originally developed for firefighters working in Spokane’s rugged terrain, the Smokejumper became synonymous with durability, protection, and performance. That reputation eventually grew far beyond firefighting circles.
Today, White's serves loggers, tradespeople, outdoor professionals, ranchers, craftspeople, and boot enthusiasts around the world, but the Smokejumper remains their best-selling boot and the foundation of the reputation for Pacific Northwest boots.
Why Visitors Should Visit Luna
White's success is inseparable from the city it calls home. The company helped establish Spokane's reputation as a center for Pacific Northwest bootmaking, inspiring generations of craftspeople and contributing to a regional identity recognized around the world.
Today, Spokane's maker culture remains one of the city's defining strengths. From artists and metalworkers to coffee roasters and handcrafted goods producers, there's a deep appreciation here for things made thoughtfully and made well. White's stands as one of the earliest and enduring examples of that spirit.
As Kinney puts it:
“White’s Boots has been here for 173 years, and we're going to give it our best shot to be here another 173 years.”
Even if you're not in the market for a new pair of boots, White's provides one of Spokane's most distinctive visitor experiences. It's a chance to witness skilled craftsmanship in real time and a reminder that some things are worth making the old-fashioned way.