About

My grandfather was a dressmaker. This is his building in Aschaffenburg, Germany, with my father, Lothar, his brother, Edgar, and sister, Sieglinde, when they were young. I like to think I got some of my pattern-making and fashion design skills from him (though I never really knew either of my grandparents).

I was raised in Las Vegas (don’t recommend), and have spent the last twenty-five years or so in Brooklyn, NY, where Black Heron Boots are made. After taking shoemaking classes with Emily Putterman Handler at Pratt Institute in 2016 and slowly learning the craft by making every conceivable mistake, I finally got the hang of it. Thank you for supporting a small business continuing to design and make goods by hand in America. 

A small portion of our net proceeds supports U.S. anti-poverty initiatives and humanitarian relief in Palestine and Ukraine. If you’ve always wanted a pair of handmade boots but could never quite afford it, contact us, and maybe we can work something out.

-Bryan Wizemann
Founder, Black Heron Boots

All of our boots are made by hand in Brooklyn, New York.

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If you're still on the fence about buying a pair from us, consider supporting one of these venerable bootmakers who continue to craft boots and shoes by hand, often using traditional methods.