BootSkirt, a new online company in Fishers, aims to provide a new, locally made fashion accessory.
BootSkirt, founded by Fishers resident Barbara Stenacker and her partner Apryl Turner, makes and sells fabric “skirts” that are designed to accent and alter women’s boots. The wearer puts the fabric ring on each leg, and the outer, patterned part of the item blouses over the top of the boot.
Gallery 116, Goodman Shoes and bootskirt.com are the only places to find the new product. Each unit costs $40 plus tax, whether purchased online or in store.
Stenacker, a retired registered nurse, said she got the idea when Turner showed her a new pair of over-the-knee boots.
The accessory comes in several varieties – black faux fur, white faux fur, blue denim, brown with sparkles, camouflage – and some even have a zipper for storing IDs, credit cards, etc.
After the idea came to her, Stenacker had to figure out how to make the product come to fruition. She worked with Turner and local seamstresses to make it possible.
When she didn’t know what steps to take, Stenacker said there were people willing to step in and help make the product.
Stenacker said she hopes the product becomes a trend that is recognizable in the greater-Indianapolis area. Her aspirations for BootSkirt are grounded in wanting to be a local business.
She said she’s been told that her product could be big enough to mass produce in a foreign country. Given that opportunity, Stenacker would pass it up in favor of maintaining local employees.
BootSkirt is approaching its first full retail season, but before the new business was ready to take off, safety measures were put in place.
Stenacker had a lawyer incorporate a limited liability corporation to protect her and her partners, trademarked the product and submitted it for a patent.
For more information on the company and its products, e-mail Stenacker at [email protected].