The great American western shirt is no longer hiding in the back of grandpa’s closet—it is now a highly collectible piece of American fashion history, a treasured piece of Western Americana. Western Shirts: A Classic American Fashion is the resource on understanding the history behind these uniquely American pieces of art, and on what to look for in collecting them, because while fashion trends may come and go, quality design and construction are always recognizable. The book contains a complete list of 250 western shirt labels to help identify the manufacturer and date of your finds, and though many of the early brands are gone, this survey of makers and their designs covers the quality of design, workmanship and materials of the different brands on the market from the last 70 years. The good old shirts get bought by collectors and go out of circulation, which is why this book is so necessary—and so cool. With chapters on: -The History of Western Shirts -Vintage Shirts as Collectables -Design Elements of Western Shirts -The Manufacturers (including Miller Western Wear, Rockmount Ranch Wear Mfg. Co., H Bar C, Levi Strauss & Co., Karman Inc., etc.) -Importance of Labels in Dating Vintage Shirts -Sources of Vintage Western Shirts Steve Weil is the third generation to run his family’s firm, Rockmount Ranch Wear Mfg. Co. His love for vintage Western wear began in high school when he raided his grandfather’s closet for shirts from the 40's. Today he heads the company and is responsible for all design of the brand’s many lines. Steve lives in Denver with his wife and son. G. Daniel DeWeese was raised on a ranch near the Black Hills in South Dakota. Dan studied creative writing at the University of South Dakota before going to West Africa with the Peace Corps. Dan has worn Western shirts all his life. He lives with his wife in Minnesota.