Small Town Apparel is all about the artistry. Christina Hammer, half of the husband-wife duo behind the shop, meticulously hand paints little leather masterpieces worn on your children’s feet. Simply calling them shoes does not do the resultant works of art justice. “I didn’t start painting until a year or two after I started Small Town Apparel. It began with small details I would add to moccasins,” Hammer recalled. “With every pair, I would push myself to add more detail until I was at the level I am now. I’m still always growing and learning how to better my art. It’s been a progression over the years that I plan to continue working on.”
Hammer and her husband Wayne launched Small Town Apparel in 2014. “It started out as just making moccs for my youngest son and snowballed from there,” she said. Of course, working with her husband obviously has its own benefits and challenges. “My husband and I have completely different work styles. It makes it hard at times and we butt heads often, but I love it. I can always count on his honest opinion and having him to bounce ideas off of is invaluable to me. We have different tastes so it makes for a wider range of styles I wouldn’t have without his ideas and insights.”
Small Town Apparel is widely considered the place for handmade Disney-inspired moccasins. Past collections include the shop’s signature Toy Story design with Woody and Buzz-inspired fabrics, hand-painted Star Wars graphics and Coco characters, Up balloon designs, and feminine Mickey and Minnie Mouse-inspired Mary Jane styles. Hammer also offers seasonal House of the Mouse prints, like her Halloween “Spooky Treats” and Christmastime “Very Merry Treats,” cut from leather adorned with familiar Disney shapes, holiday colors and festive treats. Beyond Disney, Small Town Apparel creates moccasins in solid colors and stylish prints, such as buffalo plaid, floral, camo and colorful serape designs, among many others. Hammer even painted a line of colored skeleton toes this past fall that sold out in minutes. “It is so hard to choose my favorite design,” Hammer shared. “Every time I create something new, I feel like it is my favorite. If I had to choose an all time favorite it would have to be our Poison Apple moccs.”
All of the shop’s footwear is handcrafted in the United States with high quality genuine leather. Sizes range from newborn to 13 and most of the Small Town Apparel drops feature ready-to-ship items. Hammer often creates coordinating leather clutch bags and wristlets for mamas to match their kiddos. “My favorite part of what I do is creating. Taking an idea from my head and translating it into a moccasin is so exciting for me,” said Hammer.
Don’t miss the next Small Town Apparel “Rock the Dots” drop tonight at 7pm PST. More details are available in the shop’s VIP Facebook group here and on the Small Town Apparel website.
Even more exciting, Small Town Apparel is expecting another future artist this May. Congratulations Hammer family!
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