Main Expo: Saturday, November 8th, 2025–Artifact Events, Chicago

Leather Camp Industry-Only Trade Fair: Friday, Nov. 7th, 2025–Artifact Events

Workshops, Tours, Parties & Community Events
from Thursday, Nov. 6th through Sunday, Nov. 9th–Various Locations

COMMUNITY + CRAFTSPEOPLE

Boot Camp is hitting Chicago before and during the weekend of November 8th, 2025 to present a world’s fair of footwear: an immersive gathering of the world’s most exciting shoe- and bootmakers, and the most passionate devotees of their remarkable work—plus the leather they’re created from, and endless other quality goods built to last a lifetime.

NONSTOP
FOOTWEAR FERVOR

  • Spend quality time with the people creating the world’s greatest footwear—at their booths during the day, and our opening and wrap parties at night.

  • Whether selling on site or through exclusive pre-orders, many of our maker sponsors create special, limited product just for Boot Camp.

  • We all buy shoes and boots online—and we’ve all had to do with them not fitting. At Boot Camp, the ability to get properly sized is paramount.

  • Get up close and personal with hand-lasting, hand-welting, and the entire handmade shoemaking process.

  • Bootmakers and more discussing today’s biggest opportunities and challenges, and the futures they see.

  • No great footwear can be made without equally fantastic leather. Boot Camp brings together the top tanneries in the world so you can learn more about their process and products.

  • Yes we obsess over great footwear—but so many makers are creating incredible products in all sorts of categories. We’re honored to have them all at Boot Camp.

  • There will be after parties sponsored by top partners so the party won’t stop after you shop!