Independence

Just picked up one of a kind sunglasses, frames from the 1960’s w new lenses, amazing find! Oh, and Independence has the greatest socks in the world… yes, the entire world!

I ordered a pair of trench boots on 9÷25÷14. It’s been nearly a year since I received them (11÷24÷14) & I thought it time to post a review. I had quite the experience (not good) with Oak Street/​Independence, so I’ve broken my review into two parts: A brief review for those who want the short answer; & a detailed breakdown of my rating for those who want more information.
Overall rating: 0 out of 5
Customer Service: 0 out of 5
Craftsmanship: 3 out of 5
Comment: I wouldn’t wear another pair of Oak Street boots if they were given to me. The boots took 9+ weeks to arrive (I was told 6); they were damaged; and they’re too small. This is the worst company I’ve ever had to deal with. I would suggest purchasing from a more reputable company.
Detailed Explanation
Ordering: I grew up on a farm, worked as a hiking guide, & served in the Peace Corps, so these weren’t the first pair of boots I’ve purchased. At the store the clerk was pleasant and helpful. I wanted a simple cap toe rather than the decorative one they had in store at the time so I asked about ordering. I was told that it would take 6 weeks to receive them (11÷6÷14). I verified, asking if they’d be in by my birthday, (the 2^nd wk of November). I wanted to make sure I’d have them before heavy snow. The clerk assured me I’d receive them by then. I almost bought the boots in-​store but decided 6 wks wasn’t too bad. These were going to be the most expensive boots I’ve ever owned, so I had the clerk measure my feet and tried on several pairs to verify the fit. I placed the order on 9÷25÷14.
November 6^th came & went. I figured a delay in shipping might have occurred but would have liked to receive a call from the store. On my birthday I called the store. They told me that I had been misinformed. Special orders take 8 wks (11÷20÷14). I told them that, had I known that, I would have purchased a pair in store on September 25^th. I asked to cancel my order so I could purchase a pair of boots in time for a hike. The clerk told me he’d have to speak with the manager.
I’ll paraphrase the rest. Essentially, we went back & forth between myself, the clerk, & the manager. I was never able to speak with the manager directly. In the end, they told me that I couldn’t get a refund or cancel my order. They offered to send me a package with shoe trees, boot cream, socks, and a shoe horn. I told them I would rather have my boots or my money. They said take it or leave it.
November 20^th arrived and I still didn’t receive my boots or a call from the store. I called & asked why my boots hadn’t arrived 8 weeks after my order? They told me they were stuck in a snow storm. If it weren’t for the fact that I had waited two weeks longer than what I had been told, snow had started to fall in my area, & no one at the store had ever bothered to call me to keep me informed, I might have understood. Did I mention that they charged my credit card back in September? So now I was out the money and the boots. When will they arrive I asked? They said they had no idea. I told them I was headed home for Thanksgiving and my family & I would be heading out on a hike to pick our Christmas tree. What was I supposed to do without boots? Would they lend me some boots from the store? No.
On my drive home, I called my credit card company & contested the charge. I then had them contact the store who quickly said I’d have the boots by the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 29) 9 weeks & two days after my order. I noticed that the day they arrived the price of the boots listed on their website dropped as a holiday promotion. So I waited an extra three weeks & paid more than I should have!
Quality: The boots arrived but a nail in the heel hadn’t been fully seated (it was protruding a good ¹⁄₈ to ¼ inch). They were unwearable.
I also noticed that the boots felt very tight. The clerk said they would stretch & at this point I was in no mood to deal anymore with the store. So I took the boots to a cobbler who set the nail & stretched the boots. They’ve been stretched 3x but they’re too uncomfortable to wear.
The size issue is disconcerting, as I had the clerk measure my feet & I’ve owned many boots before. I looked at the receipt from my order & no size was listed. The boots shipped are a 7 ½, a whole size smaller than any shoe I own.
One more note on quality. When I wore them out into the snow for the first time, the the deep red welt turned pale. Its never returned to the original color. The clerk had told me that sealing the boots wasn’t necessary as the natural oils in the leather would protect them.
In conclusion: I was furious throughout this situation but wanted to give them a fair shake. That’s why I’ve waited to write my review (so a cooler head can prevail) & to give the boots time to stretch. I was complimented several times when I wore the boots out but I’ve always told people they were Wolverine’s or Redwings to try and spare them the headache I’ve had to go through.

iicky was a great resource and fun to talk to. He made us feel at home and we loved the U.S.A. made clothing we left with.

Medium sized boutique in the Gold Coast. While it’s in a strange location, they probably do pretty well here located above Jack Spade.
If you’re making the switch to buying all American/​Canadian/​Japanese made clothing that’s sourced responsibly, this is going to be a staple for your retail adventures in Chicago.
As far as I know, they’re the only retail place in Chicago to host Kapital and Apolis. You can also score Oak Street bootmakers shoes here, as well as good print publications and outerwear from Battenwear. They’re stocking some lady clothing now, too.

Great little boutique. They carry some Stanley & Sons. Cool place for a little knick knack gift. Awesome boots selection.

The best menswear store in Chicago. Great service, great selection. The place I come to buy my Engineered Garments. It’s so nice being able to try it on in person instead of having to guess my size online.

Stopped by the store at the suggestion of the guys at Haberdash.
It’s a small new store on the second floor above Jack Spade opened by the guys behind Oak Street Bootmakers.
The focus is on all american made clothing so the number of brands they carry is smaller but definitely focuses on good quality stuff. I definitely had my eye on some Left Field NYC denim but unfortunately, they had just sold the last one in my size. They also have a great Ebbet Fields collaboration fitted cap. I definitely will be looking to buy a pair of their shoes when it’s time to retire some shoes.
Definitely will check this store out again when I’m back in Chicago.
Also I will have to eat more hot dogs and pizza. Not relevant to the store. Just had to remind myself.

This is the store I’ve been waiting for in Chicago, it fills a definite niche that I’ve been jealous of other cities for having. The brand list — Oak Street Bootmakers, Engineered Garments, Post Overalls, Gitman, Left Field NYC, LVC, Imogene + Willie, Batten Sportswear, and on… — is great and they’ve made excellent buys from the brands too. The staff is super friendly and helpful, both engaging in conversation openly and leaving you to browese. Not to mention the owner of Independence and Oak Street Bootmakers will answer e-​mail inquiries.
On the advice of the staff I picked up some of the venetian shoe cream and it has turned into my go to boot and dress shoe.
Basically the layout, staff, and products are all top notch. You should do yourself a favor and go if you haven’t.

Cool stuff. Friendly, knowledgeable dudes. Go.

Independence just opened — it’s a new store that specializes in American-​made clothing (everything in the store is made in the USA). The store also exclusively features Oak Street Bootmakers’ line of men’s shoes, a locally owned company. Pretty convenient that they managed to get an address on Oak street!
The store, located above Jack Spade, is laid out simply and elegantly, and many of the materials used in construction are reclaimed (or so I was told by the staff). The centerpiece is the shoes, which are featured atop every rack of clothing and scattered around the store. The shoes are of very high quality, thick leather and interesting, current styles. The employees let me know that there are several designs of the shoes exclusive to the store, so if you’re a fan, you might find something that’s not available anywhere else.
I was particularly impressed with their selection of raw/​selvedge denim. They carry a variety of brands, including LVC (which are particularly hard to find in the US! — ironic, considering they’re made here). There’s also little accessories (like a hand-​made leather football I’m particularly fond of) to boot.
The staff is very polite, helpful with fitting, and not overly attentive. I also appreciate the inclusion of a bathroom within the store. Highly recommended if you’re into current styles, and American-​made clothing & footwear.

Oak Street Bootmakers make the best shoe you will find anywhere in Chicago. Until now, however, it was really tough to find a pair. I was first in line when their flagship store — Independence — opened, and it did not disappoint.
Although the store had just opened, they had full size runs of most of their shoes. In the few cases where they did not, they had a sample on the floor, along with a promise of easy and efficient delivery of any size.
On to the shoes. Oh, the shoes. The leather comes from the Horween leather factory, only a couple of miles away from the store. Handcrafted in the U.S. (Maine?), their quality is unmatched. This was my first time dealing with Chromexcel leather, but it will definitely not be the last. It is a very good blend of shine, finish, comfort, and toughness.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but, in my opinion, OSB make a great-​looking shoe. Although they only have a few different styles, they offer great variety through different colors, soles, and finishes. Make sure to try out as many styles as you can, you may be surprised. I walked out with a pair of Loden (green) Vibram sole oxfords, even though that was not on my initial list to try on. Everything I tried on looked great, but I had to make a decision at some point. I will definitely be going back in the fall for a pair of lace-​up boots.
Besides shoes, Independence also sells other menswear. Gitman Bros. shirts, vintage Levi’s, that kind of stuff. Not quite the selection of Haberdash or Penelope’s, for example, but definitely not bad.
The prices are reasonable. $ 300 is quite a bit of money, but for a pair of good, durable, American-​made leather shoes, you should not expect to spend much less.
The service was great. Shout outs to Timothy for putting up with me while I tried on every pair of shoes they had. He was very knowledgeable, despite the store being so new. A+ on the staff training process.
As a side note, this block of Oak Street is becoming the go-​to place for menswear. Not the most wallet-​friendly destination, but with Independence, Paul Stuart, George Greene, etc. this street has it all.