One on One with Kristen Decker, Founder & CEO of Desert Bloom Boots

Kristen Decker describes herself as a “cowgirl.” No matter the day or activity, you’ll usually find her in a cowboy hat and Western boots. But when she decided to start her own brand, she saw a chance to do something different: craft a high-end Western boot with sustainability at its core from day one. 

As a property manager, Kristen encountered a new, durable material she started using while refurbishing old furniture: a plant-based bio-leather made from corn and wheat. After years working with the durable material, the idea finally clicked. 

“I woke up one morning and decided I needed to make cowgirl boots,” Kristen said. 

So she got to work, stepping into an entirely new industry to bring her vision to life. 

With the help of footwear consultant Caroline de Baere, Kristen worked through the many steps of building a brand, from sourcing and design to marketing and production. The result was Desert Bloom, which officially launched in Spring 2025 with a mission to fill what she sees as a gap in the Western boot market.  

“The whole industry has either been all-leather for decades, or cheap synthetics,” Decker said. “There's never really been a good option to fill that gap in the middle.” 

Crafted from bio-leather derived from agricultural waste, Desert Bloom boots avoid the intensive chemical processes often associated with traditional leather production. The brand also uses recycled materials in its packaging and footbeds, keeping the environment top of mind in every step of production. Even the supply chain reflects the brand’s focus on reducing its carbon footprint. 

“We source our materials in Mexico, manufacture in Mexico and our fulfillment center is in California, so we're not shipping our components all over the world,” Decker said. “We also donate returns or items that we can't sell for people in need.” 

For Decker, these decisions weren’t afterthoughts, but rather central to why she started the brand in the first place. 

“I'm really trying to make a difference with our product,” she said. 

Now, four years into the journey, Decker is continuing to find her footing in the industry. She recently showcased her brand at the Atlanta Shoe Market trade show, and Desert Bloom is now carried in nearly 10 retailers across the U.S. 

When asked for her advice to other founders starting the journey of building a brand, Decker encouraged a strong belief in oneself. 

“There's going to be lots of moments of doubt,” she said. “Believing in yourself and having a circle of friends and family that believes in you more than you believe in yourself is so helpful. That keeps you going in the direction that you need to be going.” 

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