"From Bandera" is a clothing collection curated from the heart of Texas, the cowboy capitol itself.
After vending at Round Top for two weeks selling my handmade jewelry and one of a kind bolo ties, I traveled around Texas for a week and a half in search of western style / vintage clothing. My initial intention was to shop for myself, but I kept thinking about how I would love to curate a small vintage collection to sell to my customers. I've always wanted to offer something more than jewelry, especially since I have become so interested in vintage clothing over the past few years.
After Round Top, I headed to San Antonio, where I stayed for a few days to check out the area and see if I could potentially live there one day. (I loved it, and I am still considering the thought of moving there, although I'll probably move to Fort Worth.) A spur of the moment decision, and a recommendation from a friend, led me to visit Bandera, exactly an hour west of San Antone.
i researched Bandera and what it was all about. It's a tiny cowboy town that's known as the "Cowboy Capitol of the world." There's a famous home style restaurant downtown called the "Old Spanish Trail" or "OST" for short. The restaurant had a room entirely dedicated to photos of John Wayne. This was enough to convince me to take the trip, and I am so thankful I did.
I drove 40 miles west of SATX and experienced one of the most beautiful drives. The texas hill country is something truly so special. It was almost as if the rolling hills were singing with the sunshine. I drove, with my windows down and old country on the radio, to Bandera. I remember specifically how much of a core memory that would be for me, it was the spontaneity of the moment that was so special. I had no agenda other than whatever sounded the most appealing to me, and at that time, visiting Bandera was it.
As I pulled into town, I was immediately reminded of Boone, NC, where I started and built my brand. The one street road downtown, the simplicity of it all, and the hustle and bustle on the streets. Rarely anyone was on their phones, as if it were another world where there was a blanket of calm over everything in sight. an interesting feeling in comparison to Nashville, TN, the city life I'm so used to.
Bandera was a beautiful experience. Everyone I spoke to was wholesome, they were content and so happy. To me, I was clearly was a tourist, but I never once felt like one. The community there is something you don't experience often but when you do, you want to remember it. That's exactly why I named this collection From Bandera. As I left the small town, I was thankful for my time there, even though it was just for a few hours.
Every time I visit Texas, I learn so much about myself and my business. How I want to represent my brand, what's important to me, how my art can improve, how I can work harder to achieve what I desire.. .This is why I always go back to Texas. Two full weeks of work is definitely a challenge but the reward is always greater. And in this case, the reward was slowing down and taking it easy: my experience from Bandera.
thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this collection as hard as I worked to curate it for you Xx
