One of my favorite brands to come out of Austin in the past few years has been Helm. When I see a guy around town wearing a pair of Helm shoes they always seem to grab my attention, mostly due to the fact that you can tell they are well-made with high quality materials. Recently Helm owner Joshua Bingaman connected with Dave Conway, the founder of the Railroad Revival Tour (a concert tour that this year will feature Willie Nelson among others), and produced a a limited edition railroad workman boot in honor of the tour. Up until this recent collaboration Helm was manufactured outside of the U.S., but after conversation and collaboration with Dave, Joshua started to rethink the manufacturing of HELM altogether. HELM is now proudly solely manufactured in the U.S. with leathers and canvases sourced from New Jersey and Illinois. Joshua says “As a new designer I thought US manufacturing was out of my price range but I was wrong. With the attention earned through building a brand over the last 3 years, and by following my passion, heart and hard work, I can help fuel the machines that feed the families and support the structure of our country.”
The HELM story has gained attention from Martha Stewart and Joshua is one of the contestants in Martha Stewart’s American Made Awards. Winner of the contest receives $10,000 and will appear in Martha Stewart Living magazine. Click here to vote for HELM! Voting ends September 24th.
Joanna Wilkinson
keep austin stylish