Every so often, western wear makes a fashion comeback because of societal and pop cultural trends. Thanks to the popularity of the TV show “Yellowstone,” dressing like a Dutton has become a thing in recent years. But for some, western-style shirts, jackets, cowboy boots, and hats have always been a part of their personal style. Sadly, these All-American staples are largely made overseas these days. Can you remain true to your cowboy or cowgirl self while staying committed to buying products made in the USA? Read on to discover what we learned during our research.
Complete List of Western Wear Brands Made in the USA
Schaefer is one of the last companies standing that makes a full line of western apparel, including outerwear, shirts, and pants for men and women. Their clothing is created with actual ranchers in mind. It’s no wonder the “Yellowstone” wardrobe department used some Schaefer garments to give the characters the right look.
Another brand whose gear has appeared in TV shows and movies is the Montana Peaks Hat Company. This Oregon-based manufacturer makes its cowboy hats by hand with traditional methods from beaver fur felt, leather sweatbands, and satin linings. You can get a hat custom-made with your choice of brim (Aussie, Flat Brim, Packer, Rancher, Rodeo, Snap, Standard, and Wide Brim) and accessories, including ribbons.
This brand makes cowboy hats by hand the old-fashioned way. Shoppers can design their own hats for Jackson Hole Hat Company to build. They also carry cowboy hats from famous brands like Stetson. Accessories include beaded porcupine-quill hat bands, and hand-tooled and painted leather belts. They also sell western-style bandanas in a wide variety of colors.
Kat Mendenhall, founded by a Texas native and vegan activist, makes cruelty-free, stylish cowboy boots and western-style belts. Their boots are breathable, durable, and water-resistant. Each pair is handmade with proprietary microfiber construction by a skilled bootmaker.
JL Mercer Boot Company was founded a century ago in San Angelo, Texas, and its store is still there. This company has made western boots for Lyndon B. Johnson, John Wayne, Charlie Daniels, and other famous individuals. Their custom work is out of this world! Check out their boot gallery on their website.
Another iconic Texas boot brand is the JB Hill Boot Company. You can outline and measure your feet at home and send a form to them to ensure a perfect fit. If you want, you can even send the hide of an animal you hunted yourself, such as a bison or alligator, to their factory to get a pair of boots made from it. In addition to cowboy boots, they make shoes, belts, sterling silver belt buckles, wallets, purses, and boot hooks and jacks.
Anderson Bean Boots makes not only men’s and women’s styles, but also boots for even the littlest cowboys and cowgirls. Their boots are built by hand in the Lone Star State. They are one of the few remaining bootmakers to use channeled welt construction, which recesses the stitching into a groove in the leather insole to create a distinctive low profile.
Beck Boots is a historic brand that makes its boots from heavyweight American-tanned leather for maximum durability and authenticity. You can order a custom-made pair of boots from a wide variety of options in color, heel height, sole, toe shape, and stitching design, or choose from one of their 90 – yes, 90 – sizes in stock.
L.C. King, which has been in the same family for four generations, is one of our favorite apparel companies. They make high quality western style jackets and shirts in Tennessee. While you are on their website, you might want to order a pair or two of their durable jeans that stand up to the toughest working conditions.
These denim jeans are made in North Carolina, but they have a definite Lone Star State look and feel. They are also incredibly affordable. Be sure to check out their classic slim-fit cowboy cut jeans. Texas Jeans also has some flannel-lined pairs for those working outdoors in cold weather, such as ranchers.
Carl Wilson founded Babione’s Wilson Boots in 1945 to make footwear for the working cowboy. That tradition continues to this day. Their boots are pricier than a lot of other brands, but they are considered some of the best on the market. You can order work boots, dress boots, and custom-made boots from their website.
This brand has a rich history in El Paso, TX, known as the “Cowboy Boot Capital of the World.” Caboots has been in the same family for four generations. Costuming departments from movies such as the 2007 remake of “3:10 to Yuma” love their boots. You can order a pair of working cowboy boots from them or a replica of Silver Screen boots such as the ones worn by Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick.” Caboots even makes special boots for brides for western-themed weddings.
Double-H Boots makes classic western boots, working cowboy boots, ropers, and more at affordable prices. Styles include square toe, steel toe, and insulated boots. They do craft some of their boots in the USA, but use global parts. Fortunately, they are transparent about that on their website. Be sure to check the product descriptions.
Justin Boots makes western boots the same way it did when the company started in 1879. The company still has a factory in El Paso, TX, but the boots produced there have globally-sourced parts.
This iconic boot brand, which has outfitted US presidents, country music artists, and movie stars, is also based in El Paso and makes some of its products there. If you are lucky enough to live near one of their retail stores, you check the labels to ensure you are getting a made in the USA product. Otherwise, you may need to give them a call. In addition to boots, Lucchese makes western-style shirts, vests, jackets, belts, and cowboy hats.
Tony Lama is one of the most recognized western boot brands in the world. Although the brand was purchased by Justin Industries in 1990, it has retained its own name and identity. Some of their boots are still made in Texas, where it all began in 1911. However, they are produced with global materials.
The Abilene Boot Company is one of the few remaining big names in the cowboy boot industry that still makes its products exclusively in the USA. Their boots are sold in stores all over the country, which is a huge plus for those who prefer to shop for their footwear in person.
Attention all cowgirls: Buckaroo Bling is the perfect place to get western-inspired earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. You can even get bling for your favorite pair of cowboy boots! It’s not easy to find jewelry that’s made in the USA, but this company uses American-mined turquoise and domestic leather. We love that a portion of every sale goes toward horse rescue efforts.
Imogene + Willie isn’t a western wear brand, but they have some 100% cotton bandanas that are made in the USA. We particularly like their “Rider’s West” bandana, which features a screen-printed image of a cowboy on his horse, brandishing a lasso.
How to Find American Made Western Wear
Some types of western wear are easier to find domestically than others. However, the same general rules apply for researching the country of origin for western wear as other products, so keep reading for our advice on this topic.
First, let’s talk about what the phrase “Made in the USA” means. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says a product had to be “all or virtually all” made here to qualify for this designation. In other words, all significant raw materials must be domestically sourced, and all assembly must occur in the United States.
For more information, check out our how to find “made in the USA” guide.
Materials
Knowing where the materials come from is essential for finding western wear made in the USA. Fortunately, a few basic textiles are used in making most western apparel, so we will concentrate on those.
Leather
If you are shopping for cowboy boots, we recommend you look exclusively at ones made from 100% leather. Some companies substitute cheaper materials from overseas, such as fiberboard for the insoles, rubber for the heels, or plastic for the welt. However, boots that are made of leather inside have a longer lifespan. This means they could save you money in the long run, even if you have to pay more for them.
Once you’ve determined that a boot is made exclusively from leather, consider the quality and type of the leather. Here’s where things get trickier. If you see something described as “genuine leather,” that doesn’t mean you are getting the best quality because it’s just an umbrella term for “technically leather.” Instead, look for full-grain leather to ensure you are getting the best money can buy.
Fortunately, the United States produces plenty of high-quality leather. We recommend buying boots made of cowhide leather if you can because more exotic leathers generally come from overseas. But other countries also produce cowhide leather, so be sure to look at the labeling.
Cotton
If you want a pair of jeans that complement your cowboy boots or a western shirt or bandana, your best bet for ensuring they are made in the USA is to prioritize ones that are 100% cotton. This natural fiber will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Although China and India are the global leaders in cotton production, the US produces its fair share of this material – 4.5 million tons per year, to be exact. So, even with so much clothing manufacturing happening overseas, you can still find cotton apparel made in the USA.
Felt
Felt, commonly used in cowboy hats, is traditionally made with wool or other animal fur. However, felt can now be created using acrylic and other synthetic fibers.
Australia, India, and China are the world’s leading felt producers. Felt production is quite rare in the United States, but it’s still possible to find a cowboy hat made here.
Labeling
The U.S. Code requires all products coming into the United States from overseas to be labeled with their country of origin. Meanwhile, the FTC protects the “Made in the USA” label.
However, shoppers still need to be on their toes to ensure they get domestic western clothing and other goods because the FCT doesn’t make brands follow a pre-approval process to use the “Made in the USA” label. Companies sometimes take advantage of this and put the label on their products when they shouldn’t.
Another thing brands will do to mislead consumers is use labels such as:
- Assembled in the USA
- Made in the USA with global components
- Made in America (this could mean an item was manufactured in Mexico or Canada)
Also, the FTC doesn’t protect the use of the Stars and Stripes on labels. As a result, brands can put an American flag on a label or use it in advertising their products even if they were manufactured overseas.
Additional Tips
Here are some final tips to make sure your western wear is made in the USA.
Visit the Company’s Website
Brands that make their goods domestically promote that fact because they know some shoppers prioritize buying products made in the USA. We recommend checking a company’s “About Us” page or clicking on pages for individual products to see if the country or origin is mentioned there. Keep in mind that brands are not required to disclose where their goods come from online, so if that information is missing, it’s likely the product was imported.
Another smart thing to do is check the company’s social media pages to see if their western apparel was made here.
Contact the Manufacturer
If you are still in doubt about the country of origin of a product, simply call or email the company to ask where the item was made and where the components were sourced from. Hopefully, a brand representative will tell you all you need to know.
Western Wear Not Made in the USA
Below are some well-known companies that don’t make their western footwear, clothing, and accessories here. We will add to this list as we learn more.
- Ariat – Their boots are mostly made in Mexico, China, and Italy. Their western apparel is also imported.
- Corral Boots – made in Mexico
- Durango Boots – made in China
- Espinoza Boot Maker – most leather sourced overseas
- Frye – most leather sourced overseas
- Olsen- Stelzer – most leather sourced overseas
- Tecovas – made in Mexico
- Levi’s – Made in several different countries now.
- Wrangler – Made overseas.
