In 2004, we discovered our first pair of Peruvian boots while backpacking through South America. The quality of the materials used and the craftsmanship that went into making them were immediately clear to us. This led us to bringing these handcrafted shoes to the United States. Since 2010, Fortress has worked with family-owned and operated factories and workshops to maintain the quality and craftsmanship that first inspired us more than ten years ago in Peru. We always ensure that the working conditions of the people who create our shoes are safe and that they are paid fair wages.