denim & legacy : black cowboys and the true american west

When most people imagine a cowboy, they picture a rugged figure in a worn denim jacket, boots dusty from the plains, and a Stetson hat pulled low. But what’s often overlooked is just how many of those cowboys were Black—and how deeply denim runs through their stories.

A Forgotten History

After the Civil War, one in four working cowboys in the American West were Black. These skilled horsemen, ranch hands, and trailblazers shaped the cowboy lifestyle—but their stories were rarely told in books or on the silver screen.

Denim as Workwear & Identity

For Black cowboys, denim wasn’t just functional—it was a symbol. A second skin tough enough for long rides, sharp hooves, and barbed wire. Jeans, especially Levi’s and Wrangler, were part of the uniform. And just like today, how you wore them mattered—creases, cuffs, wear patterns, all told a personal story.

Tailoring and alterations were often done by hand or within tight-knit communities. Making jeans fit just right was a matter of pride and practicality. That tradition of reshaping denim for real life lives on today—in custom hems, mended seams, and modern reinterpretations of vintage styles.

The Modern Revival

Today, Black cowboys and cowgirls are reclaiming their place in Western culture—at rodeos, on ranches, and in the fashion world.

Check out:

🤠 Black Rodeo USA – preserving and promoting Black cowboy culture across the country

📷 Photographer Ivan McClellan’s “8 Seconds” Project – a beautiful visual documentation of modern Black cowboys

This isn’t a trend. It’s heritage.

At The Denim Workroom, we honor that heritage by tailoring denim with care and respect for its past. Whether you’re rocking vintage Levi’s or reworking a classic Wrangler jacket, we believe your denim should tell a story—just like the Black cowboys who wore it before us. Check out some of our western inspired looks here