The Bootleg Airstream has packed up and headed East. Don’t worry, the shoe trailer has not decided to ditch its boutique state and go back to its traveling camper roots. Rather, Bootleg has simply moved to the east side of town into an interesting new space. The Bootleg trailer now sits in a lot which houses other neighboring businesses such as local bike shop Cycleast and also sits next to, well, a bunch of old junk.
What was once simply a storage space lined with corrugated tin walls, is now the official Bootleg headquarters. The space definitely has an old warehouse vibe that actually turns out to look and feel quite interesting. Shopping for shoes inside of a trailer has always felt unique, but now the experience of shopping at Bootleg is even more special because it is off the beaten path. This is definitely not a store that you would just happen to stumble upon while out and about. You must be in the know about Bootleg.
Bootleg owner Sarah Ellison Lewis inside the Bootleg Airstream
You may or may not have checked out the Bootleg Airstream when it was still on South Congress. The shoe trailer popped up not too long after the food trailers had become an iconic staple of South Congress several years ago. Inside the shoe trailer you will find a small yet well curated selection of high quality footwear. The collection is always unique, stylish, well-made shoes by brands you won’t find elsewhere in Austin. Sometimes the big price tags can seem intimidating inside the tiny trailer, but what you get is quality. Plus, these shoes often get marked down from time to time so it is worth checking back for sales. I walked away from the trailer this weekend with a great pair of Plomos I snagged for just $175.
Bootleg was closed most of this Summer, so if you were walking around South Congress hoping to check out some designer shoes, your feet might have walked away sad. Bootleg recently suffered the same fate as its trailer predecessors, and was forced to relocate due to South Congress renovations. But the Airstream is now back in business and sits happily on the East Side. Bootleg owner Sarah Ellison Lewis is excited about the new space and says she has plans to throw several events there in the future.
While you may be aware of the Bootleg Airstream and its collection of hand picked designer shoes, you might not know about all the other shoe projects that Sarah has going on. If you’re really into shoes, the Bootleg Market website is an online playground. You can create an account and browse other people’s shoe closets from around the world, you can create your own online shoe closet, and you can even buy or sell your own shoes. Along with the Bootleg Airstream and the online market, Sarah also has a a physical Bootleg Newsprint. Inside the Bootleg headquarters, the tin walls are covered in inspirational mood boards. As a fashion editor, the newsprint is what Sarah says is her true passion.
Bootleg is now located at 501 Pedernales St.
Joanna Wilkinson
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