Our story began with the Rios family, who brought their time-honored tradition and skills in leatherwork to the Texas Rio Grande Valley near the turn of the 20th century. Honing the trade of his father and grandfather, Zeferino Rios opened a boot shop in Mercedes, Texas, whose iconic works became well-known among cowboy circles and across the western industry. He retired in the 1960s, passing on the business to father-son duo, Joe and Trainor Evans, who carried on the boot-making tradition and began their own legacy.
Trainor remained at the helm of the Rios of Mercedes operations for more than 40 years, alongside his partner Pat Moody, bringing progress and innovation to the multifaceted company. Trainor and Pat are still involved. However, after years of preparation, they have handed the reigns over to Ryan Vaughan who now leads the Rios of Mercedes Family of Brands as CEO. Trainor’s children, Jode Evans Vaughan and Clayton Evans, have also joined the ranks.
But family isn’t just what we are, it’s also what we do. Our work is as much about the boots as it is about the talented team that stands behind them. The dedication and pride poured into every stage of production are a testament to our time-honored practice. This caliber of work is seen not only in the integrity and artistry of our boots, but also within our factories, where multiple generations of family members are pursuing their own careers. Grandfathers, sons, cousins, daughters—all whose unique skill and attention to detail comes from the heart and years of experience.
The boots we make today continue to reflect the strong foundation on which we started. As a family-owned and operated business, we take great pride in knowing that most of our boots are built for and distributed to other family-owned shops across the country. Our unwavering commitment to family and quality has enabled us to build meaningful connections and grow Rios of Mercedes from a small boot shop into internationally-recognizable brands—one step at a time.
© 2024 Rios of Mercedes