Have you ever run across a merchant artisan or vendor that you wish you could share with the world?
No, this is not a paid advertisement; we’ve not been compensated in any way for this post. We’ve just found a gem, and are so impressed that we want to share it with you.
Every artisan has a story and at the Austinot we love to hear these stories. Recently, we met up with Arik Helman at the Sherwood Forest Faire and asked him to share his story with us.
Arik is one of the driving forces behind Son of Sandlar, perhaps the finest provider of Renaissance boots for Renaissance faires and Live Action Role Play (LARP) events in the country, and quite possibly the world.
How can we make such a bold claim? The Helman family has been perfecting the craft of cobbling since long before anyone reading this post was around. They’ve been in the cobbler business for six generations.
How do craftsmen keep a legacy like this alive? Three words: Quality, consistency, and service
Son of Sandlar is famous for their boots, which are primarily the work of Arik’s father, Simon, and carry a lifetime guarantee. They have 18 different styles of boots to choose from, which range in price from $170 to the mid-$800′s.
But the offerings of this incredible team don’t stop there. In addition to Renaissance boots, Son of Sandlar also has some of the finest leather garb available…and the visionary behind this aspect of the business is none other than my tour guide, Arik Helman.
Take a look at their store…don’t see what you envision? Don’t worry, Son of Sandlar can create pretty much anything you can imagine…from just an idea or a photo.
Headed to a comic convention and want that specific outfit? Son of Sandlar will not only make it for you, they will even destroy the pattern if that is your wish. How about a one-of-a-kind?
Headed to a Renaissance faire and want the very best? Son of Sandlar has you covered.
As part of the tour of his shop at the Sherwood Forest Faire, Arik dressed Austinot Brittany in one of his creations called the “Huntress,” a red leather piece inspired by a movie. Maybe you can identify which movie from the photos here:
Austinot Brittany with Arik Helman of Son of Sandlar
Arik is incredibly passionate about his craft and a stickler for details. Let’s look at one of many exemplary Renaissance costumes that he has in his inventory.
This piece is his signature creation, and he calls it the “Warrior’s Tunic.”
Arik Helman with his signature creation, the Warrior's Tunic
This exquisite ensemble is a veritable showcase of the craftsmanship level present in all of Son of Sandlar’s creations. Click on any of these photos to see them enlarged, so you can look at the quality for yourself.
The finest leathers are chosen, and true silk linings which keep the leather from staining garb worn underneath the tunic are added. Features like custom made Foundry clasps unique to Son of Sandlar creations, custom piping on the trim, “V” style seams, angled stitching, and even inner pockets make this ensemble incomparable to anything out there on the market.
Foundry Clasp - Unique to Son of Sandlar's work
Because Son of Sandlar creates their own work, and they are able to make production runs, consumer costs go down drastically.
To give you an idea of how this works, just the cost of the pre-pattern work, the pattern itself, materials and production of the Warrior’s Tunic would normally cost around $2,000.00. But because Son of Sandlar has been in business for such a long time and has the regular and loyal clientele that they have, they are able to offer this amazing work for only $845.00.
They also have Warrior’s Vests, doublet style versions of the Warriors Tunic, at $450.00.
Silk lining and interior pockets in the Warrior's Tunic by Son of Sandlar
When I tell you that this family is all about quality and customer service, I can’t stress it enough. You can see it here for yourself.
Son of Sandlar is also very active on Facebook and holds regular giveaways. You can find them on Facebook HERE.
Where can you find their shop? Their main shop is out of Savannah, GA. However, they are in the Texas area at least three times a year at the following Renaissance faires:
- Sherwood Forest Faire
- Scarborough Faire
- Texas Renaissance Festival
Interestingly, when I spoke to Arik at the Sherwood Forest Faire, he told me that the company does 18 different shows per year. He mentioned that there was a show taking place in Florida near his home, but that he opted to come to the Sherwood Forest Faire instead. When asked why, Arik explained that he really believes that, though Sherwood is a relatively new faire, it has the potential to become one of the best in the United States.
Arik is also all about keeping business stateside. During the interview, he stated, “With the economy being the way that it is, you can definitely find cheaper garb and boots, but none that are made with the attention to detail and craftsmanship like ours. We work hard to bring the best quality to our customers and we keep everything in the States. I’d like to encourage people to support our country’s economy, and whatever you buy…buy American-made!”
In closing, I’d like to say that I agree with you Arik. You may find cheaper boots and garb out there…but you get what you pay for, and in my opinion you’ll be hard pressed to find better craftsmanship than yours.
Bravo, Son of Sandlar…. here’s to many more successful years in the business.
For more details, check out Son of Sandlar on the web by clicking HERE.
Austinot Eric asks:
Have you ever purchased from Son of Sandlar? What is YOUR experience?
