Alvies Boots and Flip-Flops Taps Austin Icons for Giveback Program

Alvie Faulkenbery IV never wore a pair of cowboy boots growing up. That might come as a surprise since he’s now the president and co-founder of Austin-based Alvies, a hand-crafted boots and flip-flops brand.

Flip-flops are a different story, though. Before Faulkenbery had dreams of designing fashionable, durable western footwear, he says he was strictly a flip-flop kind of guy. It wasn’t until he inherited a collection of classic cowboy boots in his early twenties from his late grandfather, Alvie Faulkenbery Jr., a decorated World War II veteran who had an “honorary cowboy personality,” that he realized the signature Texan look was more than just a fashion statement.

“The boots were just really comfortable and cool looking, and I fell in love with them almost instantly and started wearing them as my own style,” says Faulkenbery. “But part of that was thinking about this adventurous man that I grew up looking up to and the adventures that he had in his cowboy boots.”

Inspired by the tales of a childhood hero and built with quality leather and craftsmanship, Alvies is a company with a mission not only to provide “long-lasting boots and flops” but to give back to the Austin community with every shoe purchase.

Alvies Kickback Program, which launched at the beginning of 2021, is led by a team of Kickback Ambassadors of renowned artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, chefs and restauranteurs that make Austin an arts and culture mecca.

“We really wanted to focus on the people that make Austin, Austin.,” says Faulkenbery.

Kickback Ambassadors include legendary Austinites like Franklin Barbeque’s Stacy Franklin, Juan in a Million’s Juan Meza, Band of Heathens’ Gordy Quist, guitarist Jackie Venson, KUTX’s Laurie Gallardo and musician Eric Tessmer.

Each Kickback Ambassador picks a local charity with a worthy cause and is paired up with an Alvies boot. After every sale of a pair of the assigned boots, a portion of the proceeds is donated to the ambassadors’ causes.

The local charities being supported by the Alvies Kickback Program are Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin, E4 Youth, Con Mi MADRE, Austin Pets Alive!, Project ATX6 and The SIMS Foundation.

“If I was able to hand-select them, I don’t think I could have done a better job,” says Faulkenbery. “Our ambassadors really were passionate about every one of these charities … It’s really been a fun and rewarding program so far.”

The late Alvie Faulkenbery Jr. has been made a symbolic Kickback Ambassador for The Lamar, the company’s original boot. Proceeds will be donated to The Iron Freedom Foundation, a non-profit that provides veterans’ support and services in his honor.

“If my grandfather were able to know that I started an entire company around the boots that I inherited from him, and then also that we have these great ways of giving back, I think he would be super proud.”