Traveling has always been one of Evan Streusand’s greatest passions, especially throughout South America. On one trip in particular, he purchased a pair of boots that he took back to the States and wore everywhere. He always got compliments and never saw anything else like them. On a return trip to Peru in 2007, he met with a boot maker, and had 100 pairs of the handmade boots created as the starting point for Inca Boot Company (incaboots.com). Since then, the boots have taken off and are currently sold at a favorite boutique in Westlake, Beehive, as well as the Second Street District’s Girl Next Door. This season’s boots come in tan and olive green and are available in two heights. “They are the anti-Ugg. You can wear them 90 percent of the year,” the Houston native says. He hopes to have a men’s line out by Fall 2012 and continues to find inspiration in his travels around the world. “When you are abroad, you feel really free. It’s easier to meet people on an adventure when you are seeing new things,” he says. “When you stay in the same place for too long, things can get old.” Glad to be his own boss, Streusand hopes Inca Boots will continue to grow organically. “I want it to become an iconic brand like Levi Strauss, which started with work wear and has become a brand that lasts through the ages and doesn’t trend and peak…it just is,” he says. “We want our customers to feel like they are discovering something new.”

What is your favorite decade in fashion? I’m actually really into the current state of fashion. Thanks to the abundance of choices available, the barriers between certain styles have become pretty blurred. This creates an unpredictable mix of looks that have never really been seen before.

Who is your favorite designer? I don’t have a favorite designer per se, but I really admire any designer who has created a long lasting brand. My goal with Inca Boots is to create a style that stands the test of time and isn’t beholden to the latest trends.

If you weren’t in your current career, what would you try? Filmmaking or something in the arts. I love the collaboration and the creative expression of ideas.

What was your favorite article of clothing when you were a child? I had a thin cotton, yellow bicycle hat that I pretty much wore nonstop. I always loved hats, and I know there’s a large hat collection somewhere at my parents’ house. When I was really young I also loved Lacoste shirts, though I only referred to them as “Alligator Shirts.”

If you were an inventor, what would you invent? Probably a matter transporter. Imagine being able to go from one place to another in just a matter of seconds. You could sit on a beach in San Sebastian during the day and then have a steak dinner in Buenos Aires that night. 

When and where are you happiest? Typically when I’m travelling and exploring new places. Though of all the places I’ve been, I’m always happy to come back to Austin.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Han Solo. You’ve got to love his confidence.

Where would you live if you weren’t in Austin? On the road. There’s no greater feeling of freedom, and I’d want to experience as many places and cultures as possible. Though, I would always come back to my roots in the Lone Star State.

If you could design a piece for any celebrity living or dead, who would it be? I’d design a pair of men’s boots for Willie Nelson. Do I really need a reason?!

What is your most treasured possession? The guitar I bought the first day I got to Brazil. I carried it around South America on my back for 3 months and it was with me when I found my inspiration for the boots.