Whether you're horseback riding, exploring the outback, running errands on the farm or playing the banjo, there's nothing like quality comfortable jeans. And nobody knows this best than Wrangler. In fact, this has been the brand's motto since 1994.
But the name Wrangler has been around several decades longer than that - the brand is turning 75 this year. Nevertheless, it hasn't gotten old. Its most iconic denim pieces are still drawing great interest and can be seen anywhere from outback ranches to the streets of Sydney. Next to Lee and Levi's, it's one of the most popular denim producers in the world.
So, to celebrate the brand's 75th birthday, let's learn a thing or two about how it came to be and why people are still flocking to shop the range of Wrangler clothing for sale.
The Story of Wrangler
C.C. Hudson Sets a New Benchmark for Denim
Wrangler's story dates back to the 1800s in the United States. C.C. Hudson, a 20-year-old farm kid from Tennessee, ventured out to a textile town in North Carolina in 1897. He had a job in an overall manufacturer waiting for him, paying 25 cents per day. This is where he learned how to make jeans and gained an insight into the American workwear sector.
Hudson lost his job seven years later when his company closed. His prior employer sold him some sewing machines, which he and his brother Homer purchased. They started a new business under the Hudson Overall Company. Their new company was small, producing simple handcrafted workwear.
The Hudson brothers decided to increase their production capacity and altered their firm name to 'Blue Bell Overall Company' in 1919, after more than a decade of successful operation. Blue Bell had its first breakthrough product seventeen years after being purchased by Big Ben Manufacturing.
Dungarees constructed from pre-shrunk (sanforised) fabric were known as Super Big Ben Overalls. This meant that after each wash, the denim shrank by less than 1%. This novel approach has set a new benchmark in denim production in America. Unfortunately, C.C. Hudson died tragically shortly after the publication of these overalls.
Calling All Cowboys!
Blue Bell opted to purchase 'Casey Jones Company' along with their brand name 'Wrangler' due to the brand's recent success with their popular overalls. They subsequently began to promote the Wrangler brand through rodeo advertisements. The brothers commissioned famed tailor 'Rodeo Ben' to create the '13MWZ', a pair of pants appropriate for Rodeo Cowboys.
Famous rodeo riders like Jim Shoulders, Bill Linderman, and Freckles Brown wore Wrangler's specialty jeans, which was a tremendous testimonial for the company. Cowboy Jim Shoulders joined on as an official Wrangler endorsee a year later. In the jeans, he won 16 world championships. This greatly increased their appeal in the South, as he was a role model for many teens.
Dominating the Market for Jeans
Throughout the 1950s, Wrangler continued to expand. Wrangler would accept the expanding demand for their product in postwar America, which was enamored with denim jeans.
Wrangler's extensive endorsement campaigns lasted till the turn of the century. They were the first (and still are) sponsors of the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association, they sponsored one of NASCAR's greatest legends, Dale Earnhardt (and later his son), and they provided the outfit for the popular country film 'Pure Country' in 1992.
Wrangler held the greatest market share for jeans in the United States after another relocation of headquarters and a successful combination of workmanship and sponsorship. In 1996, Wrangler jeans were worn by a quarter of all American men.
Wrangler Today
In the world of denim, the trademark "W" letter stitched on the rear of the jeans has become one of the most identifiable marks. The brand is a mainstay of Australian fashion and has gained cult status around the world, being sold in more than 22 across Europe.
Wrangler continues to promote its cowboy roots and American heritage, most recently featuring former NFL quarterback Brett Favre playing touch football in the dirt while wearing the iconic jeans. It's worth mentioning, though, that Wrangler no longer manufactures any denim in the United States, as the company's only American facility was shut some 15 years ago.
Focus on the Future
Those that buy the various Wrangler clothing for sale are making a sustainable choice – the brand produces denim pieces that last much longer than a regular pair of jeans. But Wrangler, does not simply stop there. By 2025, they plan to use 100% renewable energy to power all of their owned and operated facilities. And until 2020, they already saved 5.5 billion liters of water. What an impact!
Wrangler has also developed a coalition of academic and nonprofit partners to assist cotton growers in adopting the best soil health practices without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or excessive water. By 2025, they want all of their products to be manufactured from 100 percent sustainable cotton.
Hollywood's Favourites
Wrangler is so well-known in the fashion world that a host of celebrities have donned classic denim pieces. In fact, the brand is very popular in Hollywood and has been seen on Ben Affleck, Jared Leto, Selena Gomez, and Brad Pitt.
What's more, Wrangler clothes have starred in numerous westerns and western-inspired films, most recently in Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Are Wrangler Pieces Worth Your Money?
Most Wrangler clothes are composed entirely of cotton, with only a small amount of polyester or elastane added for stretch and ease of movement in some jeans. The thickness and weave of the denim vary depending on the style. The lighter and stretchier the fabric is, the thinner the style. But even the thinnest denim in the line is strong and long-lasting.
People who buy Wrangler apparel for sale today value great design and desire denim clothing that will last them years, if not a decade. Wrangler has maintained loyal to its beginnings, which is why slipping into a pair of the all-American jeans still gives you that yeehaw sensation.
A pair of Wranglers distinguishes people who wear them from those who wear Levi's. The brand's iconic Wild-West heritage can be observed in all of their jeans as well as in shirts, jackets, vests, and accessories. So, if you want to dress western and still look contemporary enough, this is the brand for you!
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