RM1,000 handcrafted boots proudly made in Malaysia

Do you think boots are just too hot for Malaysia? Well, there’s one local brand challenging that idea.

Established in 2025, Outstation Boots specialises in casual, lifestyle heritage boots, made from a home workshop in Kuala Lumpur.

Founder Matt, an Australian who has lived in Malaysia for more than 10 years, spent most of his career in the corporate world while making high-end dress shoes on the side. He made his first pair of boots in 2020, but only turned his passion into a full-time career last year.

Today, his handcrafted boots are drawing customers from Malaysia and beyond.

“Corporate life is great but at a certain point, especially the more senior you get, you kind of get put into a pigeon hole, and it’s very hard to break out of,” he told FMT Lifestyle.

“At the time I was already making boots but I never thought of it as a business. As I came along more and more in the craft, people started approaching me to buy my work. Then I realised maybe there is some kind of market gap here. So that’s how it all began – by accident.”

Matt designs his footwear for almost every situation. Each pair is unisex, made to order, and priced from RM900 upwards.

For example, his best-seller, the “Wanderer”, is a versatile ankle boot designed for everyday urban wear. “Homestead”, by contrast, is a rugged, lace-up all-purpose boot made with a thick, sturdy midsole, making it tough enough for outdoor use. “After Hours” is a sleek slip-on loafer designed to transition easily from casual days to evenings out.

The boots come in five standard colourways and are all water-resistant.

“I would say Malaysian consumers have never been exposed to this kind of product before. When they think of a boot, they think of something big and bulky, like a winter boot. But my product couldn’t be further from what you think a boot is,” Matt explained.

In fact, his boots weigh under 500g and are built to last a lifetime, he said. Matt also only uses premium-quality leather on the outside and inside makes his boots less hot than those typically found on the rack.

“It actually wears much more like a sneaker compared to a boot, but the material is much more high quality.”

Completely self-taught, Matt spends at least 30 hours handcrafting each pair using the stitchdown construction method, which dates back to the 17th century.

Designing a pair can take up to six months. Once the design is finalised, the leather is carefully cut, stitched and shaped by hand around a last.

The different components are then assembled and secured before each pair goes through several finishing stages, including conditioning, waxing and polishing.

The process requires a variety of specialised tools and machines, including a fur stitcher, shoe oven, clamps and an eyelet press, among others.

For now, Matt runs the business as a one-man operation.

“I always tell people, I’m a businessman first, and a bootmaker second – which is probably the opposite of most craftspeople. Around 40% of my day is spent hands-on, making the product. The other 60% of the day is spent running a business.”

Matt also provides consulting services for companies looking to enter the industry and runs workshops for individuals interested in taking up bootmaking. His customers range from slow-fashion enthusiasts and executives to farmers, healthcare workers, and oil and gas workers.

“I noticed that there is a growing number of local customers aged below 30. So they are saving up to buy a high-quality product and I never expected this when I started the business,” he said.

Matt also attracts customers who need custom adjustments for unique foot shapes, with made-to-measure boots available.

“Ideally, I’d like Outstation Boots to be the boot for Malaysia. Malaysians know one boot, it’s Outstation, that’s what I want in the long-term.

“Just because something is made overseas, it doesn’t mean it’s better than something made here. You just need to look a little bit in your own backyard first, you will find local products that are high quality.”

Matt currently operates his workshop from home, but as demand grows, he hopes to scale up and manufacture the boots in a factory.

Follow Outstation Boots on Instagram.

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