Western shirt

– The Embodiment of North American Diversity

PART I

For those who can only envision a simple checkered shirt or a denim shirt as the upper attire of a Wild West figure, it's definitely worth reading this article. But it's also for those who already know more about the fantastically colorful world of Western or rodeo shirts – we hope to surprise them with a few interesting facts.

HISTORY

Naturally, as you might suspect, the predecessors of Western shirts started as practical elements of everyday life, serving as the rugged attire of cowboys working on ranches. During this time, simpler patterns and cuts were more characteristic, but these garments were just precursors to what we now understand as Western wear.

Western clothing actually falls into the realm of fashion and emerged in the first decade of the 20th century as a result of the revived fascination with the West in the late 19th century. Towards the end of the 1800s, incredibly popular were the so-called "dime novels" with Western themes, which were the equivalent of today's TV shows, serving as a form of mass entertainment in that era. These small booklets built a true myth around the Wild West and were highly sought after by the audience hungry for heroes from the Eastern United States.

The growing fascination with the romantic Wild West was initially addressed by Buffalo Bill and the Miller Brothers' 101 Ranch Western shows. Later, silent films and then talkies took over to satisfy this interest. Tourists began to flock from the East to the West to witness the skill of cowboys on ranches that had increasingly become show venues, as well as in rodeo arenas.

The costumes for performers and actors in the shows were initially custom-made by tailors. However, the demand generated by these shows led to a growing desire for western fashion that tailors could not meet. Phil Miller was one of the first to recognize the opportunities in this sudden demand. In the 1920s, he founded the Miller & Co. company in Denver, which manufactured all sorts of western-themed items.

A bemutatók szereplőinek és a filmszínészeknek a ruháit eleinte még szabók állították elő teljesen egyedi kivitelben, azonban az ezek nyomán kialakuló western divat iránt jelentkező igényt ők már nem voltak képesek kielégíteni.

Ebben a hirtelen jött keresletben rejlő lehetőségeket először Phil Miller ismerte fel, aki az 1920-as években Denverben megalapította a mindenféle western-tárgyat gyártó cégét: a Miller & Co. vállalatot.


 

Jack A. Weil joined Phil Miller in 1933, and together they founded the first business specifically dedicated to manufacturing western shirts. After World War II, Weil established his own company, Rockmount Ranch Wear, which became one of the most significant names in the industry.

Around the same time, several other western shirt manufacturing companies emerged, such as H Bar C, Karman, Pendleton, and Westmoor. Among the classics, Levi's should also be mentioned, as it had already gained fame for other products.

In addition to these well-established manufacturers, you can find approximately 250 brands in today's western shirt market, each working in various qualities and styles.

Did you know?

Older models from well-known brands are highly valued among western shirt collectors worldwide. While you can acquire a new shirt for as little as $30 in the USA, a classic piece's price can go up to several hundred dollars or even more.

The western shirt market experienced steady growth from the 1930s to the 1970s, marking the heyday of these garments.

However, in 1978, something happened that led to a sudden and dramatic increase in sales. It was, perhaps not surprisingly, a movie – "Urban Cowboy" featuring John Travolta.

This style-defining film quickly brought western fashion from the countryside to the cities, created a new trend in clothing design, and prompted many stores to add these new products to their offerings.

However, as is common in the fashion world, this craze only lasted a few years. In the early 1980s, the demand slowly declined, returning to the levels preceding the great boom.

Subsequently, new peaks and valleys followed one another in terms of the number of casual fans. Yet, the true enthusiasts of the western lifestyle remained loyal to their style throughout.