Cowboy boots to take on Tinseltown

A home-grown Paraburdoo business will bootscoot over to the United States next month to show off its outback-inspired footwear to Hollywood stars ahead of the Academy Awards.

Kara Lauder started Kader Boot Co at her home of eight years in Paraburdoo, designing western boots with an Australian flavour.

Ms Lauder got her first shipment of boots late last year and is now packing her bags for California, where she has been invited to hold a stall at a celebrity gifting suite the day before the big awards.

Far from a burden, she said being based in the bush had helped raise the profile of her footwear.

“People would think it’s a step back being out here, but it actually really helps being in such a beautiful and remote environment,” she said.

“Everything is done online these days, so I really don’t think where you live should hold you back.

“To get this opportunity, especially being where we are, is unbelievable.”

Ms Lauder has picked three designs to showcase — the Karijini-inspired ant boots (pictured), a southern cross design, and her turquoise arrow boots.

She said tapping the US market would be “enormous” for Kader Boots, adding one outlet in New York had already shown interest.

Joining Ms Lauder on the trip will be Jess Edwards, who gained attention last year with a viral truck safety video on her social media page, Jillaroo Jess.

Ms Edwards said supporting a WA business was an easy choice to make. “It was exciting to see there was a western boot company starting up in the Pilbara, so I got in touch to buy some boots and it kind of just went from there,” she said.

“It is really exciting and is certainly not an opportunity I thought I would ever have.”

Gifting suites are hosted the day before the Academy Awards by hotels around Hollywood for companies to showcase products to celebrities and influencers.

Celebrities are led around to each booth, where they meet the owners and take photos which can then be used by the companies for promotional material.

As for which celebrities she would most like to see in a pair of Kader Boots, Ms Lauder said Keith Urban or Nicole Kidman would take the cake.