Western wear as a separate apparel category got its start in the 1940s after WWII ended. Rockmount Ranch Wear, Westmoor (Panhandle Slim), Miller and Karman (Roper) initially catered to ranchers, farmers, cowboys and tourists living in or visiting the American West. In 1947, Blue Bell, a North Carolina manufacturer of denim dungarees and overalls, hired Philadelphia tailor “Rodeo Ben” Lichtenstein to design denim pants for cowboys. Rodeo Ben already had a steady clientele of cowboys on


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