Our story starts with José Luis, a Mexican immigrant raised in a family where leather, craftsmanship, and shoemaking were part of everyday life. His father ran a vaquero-style boot business long before José Luis was born, so from an early age he was surrounded by tanning hides, building lasts, and learning what it really takes to make a boot last. After his father passed away from cancer in 1985, José Luis faced a tough chapter that ultimately led to losing the family business, but not the passion behind it.
In 1994, after spending several years working and grinding in Los Angeles as a proud Latino immigrant, José Luis made a call that changed everything: it was time to bet on himself. He launched a Western boot distribution company, learning the market from the inside out. Later, alongside his brother Alex, that experience evolved into something bigger, designing and manufacturing work boots under one name: CEBU.
From day one, the mission was clear: build work boots that were genuinely comfortable. Back then, most work boots were stiff, unforgiving, and required a painful break-in just to get through the day.
Today, thanks to the people who trust us day in and day out, CEBU has grown into one of the leading work boot brands in Texas. But at the core, nothing has changed. We’re still driven by the same idea that started it all, comfort you’ll feel from the first wear.
