Freenote's Andrew Brodrick on Pairing Boots with The Right Denim, and How to Manufacture in the US

Along with his brother Matt (the one with the mustache), Andrew Brodrick is half of Freenote Cloth, the near-decade-old denim-'n'-more brand (yes they sell boots!) that's committed to manufacturing its entire widening range of menswear in a small radius in and around Los Angeles.

Andrew came on the Shoecast to lay out his philosophy on which cuts of denim should go with which boots (be warned: he's gonna push you towards the wider stuff); how maddeningly hard—but also extremely rewarding!—it can be to make heritage goods in the USA; where vintage reproduction menswear draws its inspiration; why he wears the same boots every single day; and, naturally, the best way to surf on the job.

But without a doubt the most important part of this episode is Andrew's advice on how to break in a pair of raw denim, which includes a panel van, an airport parking garage, a giant pile of insurance money, and a near mass-kidnapping. We couldn't think of a better way to end Season 5 of the Shoecast.


Help support the Shoecast by joining the Stitchdown Discord today (unless you hate shoes and boots of course)


Theme Song: The Road by Punk Rock Opera

2025 dates and location for Stitchdown's Boot Camp 3—the world's fair of shoes and boots and leather and more—coming soon.

https://www.stitchdownbootcamp.com/

Support the Shoecast and join the most interesting shoe-and-boot-loving community on the internet with a Stitchdown Premium membership

https://www.stitchdown.com/join-stitchdown-premium/