Chisholm Trail Collection, Transition 2024 by doubledranch

The Chisholm Trail

As Texans and as trailblazers, the Chisholm Trail feels like a part of us.

While we can’t prove it on paper, our ancestor Walker Riddle likely drove his cattle up along the Chisholm Trail from South Texas to the rails, so in a way we feel like descendants of the trail. It’s entwined in our history and woven in our roots, and we drew on that feeling of connection in concepting this collection; it’s an allusion to the era, to the drovers and the days of old.

The colors are grounded, earthy saddle browns brightened up with worn indigo blues, and the aesthetic is that of working cowboys and cattle drivers, with an emphasis on denim and vintage bandana and ticking-inspired prints. It plays with exaggerated eyelets, indigo and ivory color combinations, and utilitarian fabrics. The overarching theme, Wide Open Trails, is partly an homage to the past and the pioneers who paved the paths before us, and partly a celebration of renegades and risktakers blazing our own.

Trails End Jacket, McCoy Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessories

Trail’s End Jacket, McCoy Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessories

Indigo Bedroll Top, The Josie Leather Skirt, Tenderfoot Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Tenderfoot Boot

Indigo Bedroll Top, The Josie Leather Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Too Haute To Handle

Come for the beads, stay for the bamboo. Or vice versa. Honestly, we can’t decide which is the most alluring element of this handbag. Created custom for Double D Ranch, each bag is individually hand-beaded in an elegant scale of blue hues with complementing creams, emblazoned with our logo and a longhorn skull. The bold, boxy silhouette and ultra-en vogue bamboo handle elevate this bag from cool to collectible.

Head’em Up Jacket, Cowboy Nod Dress, Indigo Bedroll Bag, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Head’em Up Jacket, Cowboy Nod Dress,

Double D Ranch Accessory

Head’em Up Jacket, Cowboy Nod Dress, Roughstock Boot, Indigo Bedroll Beaded Bag, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

“Loving the land. Honoring its mysteries. Acknowledging and embracing the spirit of place – there is nothing more legitimate and there is nothing more true.”

- Terry Tempest Williams

Jesse’s Bandana Jacket, Jesse’s Bandana Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Jesse’s Bandana Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Jesse’s Bandana Jacket, Jesse’s Bandana Pant, Double D Ranch Belt

Becoming the Brand

Long before it was a boardroom buzzword, branding meant making your mark in a very literal sense.

Originally referring to the iron-emblazoned emblem staking claim to your livestock, it’s since expanded to encompass a whole spectrum of symbolism, but at its core, your brand still stands for the same thing: your livelihood and your legacy.

Anyone familiar with Double D Ranch knows how dear we hold both of those things, how deeply we revere them and how fiercely we will protect them. (Like a pack of wolves, one might say.) Ironically, in the beginning, we didn’t take our ‘brand’ all that seriously – we didn’t really workshop the name all that much, just stuck with the first thing that came to us, Double D for “Doug & Daughters”, and our logo was about as simple – after all, we thought we were just selling some coats to fund a family ski trip. But, in the three-plus decades since then, we believe our ‘brand’ (in both the literal and the macro sense) has evolved in significance and sophistication, an evolution that’s reflected in our most recent logo reveal: the bold, blocky D-within-a-D. Strength in simplicity. A sleek, singular letter that speaks volumes to those in the know.

Open Range Jacket, The Circle Dot Herd Vest, Bryce Henley Top, The Circle Dot Herd Pant, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Open Range Jacket

Open Range Jacket, Bryce Henley Top, The Circle Dot Herd Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

The Circle Dot Herd Vest, Bryce Henley Top, The Circle Dot Herd Pant, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

The Circle Dot Herd Vest, Bryce Henley Top, The Circle Dot Herd Pant. Wide Open Trails Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Jesse’s Bandana Dress, Long Tall Sally Boot Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessories

Jesse’s Bandana Blouse, Jesse’s Bandana Short, Sonora Vest, Wide Open Trail Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Rio Salado Top in Sheridan Floral, Double D Ranch Belt

Rio Salado Top in Sheridan Floral, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Boss’s Daughter Jacket, Wayne Top, The Josie Leather Skirt, Long Tall Sally Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Boss’s Daughter Jacket, Wayne Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Wayne Top, The Josie Leather Skirt, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Tenderfoot Vest, McCoy Top, Bryce Henley Top, Pitchwagon Ticking Pant, Texas Jack Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Tenderfoot Vest, McCoy Top, Bryce Henley, Pitchwagon Ticking Pant, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Jesse’s Bandana Sweatshirt, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Jesse’s Bandana Sweatshirt, West of Llano Short, Long Tall Sally Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Accessory

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessories

Indigo and Ivory

Denim was a given. Any homage to the Chisholm Trail would feel inauthentic without it. Counterbalancing that color story came down to two key components: sophisticated and understated.

The aesthetic is meant to evoke old school vibes – like, really old school, antique versus vintage. Think ticking and feed sacks, prairie dresses and covered wagons. The vision was to capture the comely simplicity of blue and white, but elevate it with exquisite fabrics and striking silhouettes, like luxe velvets and overscaled eyelet. We also took denim to new dimensions by creating an outstanding blue jean boot.

Bent Fork Dress, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

West of Llano Jacket, West of Llano Short, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Blue Jean Baby Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Coyote Weed Dress, Texas Jack Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry

West of Llano Jacket, West of Llano Short, Long Tall Sally Boot, Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Coyote Weed Jacket, Blue Northern Pant, Texas Jack Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

D Ranch

Mummy’s Bundle

We have found ourselves in a collaboration of the coolest kind – a genuine win-win that feels more like a fated friendship. Mummy’s Bundle is a legendary label in the jewelry industry, found in elite boutiques and galleries, and carried in Bergdorf Goodman. Created by an archeologist, Doug Hancock, and his wife Mary, Mummy’s Bundle is renowned for exquisite chokers boasting beautiful macramé with bold silver adornments. When Doug passed a few years ago, Mary’s passion for the business waned, but our passion for their pieces did not. That’s how we ended up in cahoots, acquiring the label and thousands of molds and inheriting a working relationship with their original macramé artisan, as well as a cherished friendship with Mary. It’s an honor to carry the torch, with a touch of DDR creativity – you can look forward to limited edition custom creations to complement each collection.

Life Lessons, Louden Clear

“Make do with what you have until you get what you need.”

It sounds simple, summed up in so many words, but a mantra like that only manifests in someone who’s truly lived that life. Someone like Christine Louden, who is the fourth of five generations living and working the Louden Ranch in southern Colorado where we photographed this collection.

“It was a great way to grow up, it was a great lifestyle,” Christine said. “It shaped me because I became a very hard worker, very self-motivated, and very competent. I had to do a lot of things by myself and figure it out. The obstacles were presented, but you just get through it; I think that’s been a great lesson in resilience that I’ve carried with me my whole life.”

Don’t be mistaken that she appreciates the lifestyle because it’s all she’s ever known, though. Quite the contrary. Christine is not only well-traveled and made her own way in an industry entirely unrelated to ranching, she’s also lived on multiple continents for years.

“I’ve lived in some amazing places,” she shared. “I’ve lived in Aspen, New York City, London, Melbourne. Of all of these amazing adventures that I’ve had and places I’ve lived, the ranch is still my favorite place on earth. There is such a deep love for and

connection to the land here.”

The land and lifestyle eventually drew Christine back to the cowcalf operation which runs mostly Red Angus herds, and she’s built a marketing arm for their family’s beef, called Short Grass Prairie Beef.

“I’ve done farmer’s markets in Denver and here locally, and we’ve shipped to both coasts,” she said. “We don’t do a lot of volume and I think of it as kind of like a little hobby now, but it’s been fun. It also has provided me another little connection with the ranch, in a different way.”

At the end of the day, it’s all about a loyalty to the land and the Louden legacy.

“There’s a sense of wanting to take care of it, of wanting to make sure it stays healthy,” she said. “Also, it works for our whole family. We have a good family dynamic around it, it’s a really good life. It’s quite precious.”

Trail Tales

When it comes to the Chisholm Trail, the lore is large, and the literature is plenty. Whether you’re a hardcore history buff, a country kitchen queen, or a wistful Wild West romantic, we’ve rounded up a handful of books that may just deserve a spot on your shelf.

The Chisholm Trail, Wayne Gard – An entertaining historical account of what life was like on the trail compiled from interviews with surviving trail drivers and research within communities along the route.

Along the Chisholm Trail, George Rhoades – An award-winning compilation of cowboy poetry from Cotton County, Oklahoma.

Jesse Chisholm, Ambassador of the Plains, Stan Hoig – A biography pieced together from the archives painting a picture of the legendary man for whom the trail was named.

Range Riders Cookin’ – More than 300 classic recipes accompanied by artwork from western artist Robert Kerby.

Chisholm Trail Bride, Kathleen Y’Barbo – A fictional Chisholm Trail tale that will charm readers of romance, history, and adventure.

Joseph McCoy’s Great Gamble, James E. Sherow – How a vision, ambition, and relentless perseverance transformed the cattle trade and the American landscape.

Indigo Bedroll Jacket, Double D Ranch Accessory

Indigo Bedroll Jacket, Spaghetti Western Boot, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessories

Rio Salado Tee in Prairie Star, Sonora Jacket, Blue Jean Baby Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

North to Market Jacket, Bryce Henley Top, West of Llano Short, Tenderfoot Boot, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Vintage Double D Ranch Belts

“Although

a number of cattle drive routes existed during this period, none captured the popular imagination like the

one we know today as the Chisholm Trail.”

- Texas Historical Commission

All Across Texas Jacket, Oscar Betz for Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

All Across Texas Jacket, McCoy Jacket, Fort Worth Scarf, Oscar Betz for Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Double D Ranch Jewelry

End of Ride Tee, Tate Top, Roughstock Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

The Circle Dot Herd Dress, All Across Texas Scarf, Longhorn Pee Wee Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

“Have fun and be excellent in all that you do. If you can do one of those things, you’re living a good life, and if you can have both, then by golly, you’re off the charts.”

- Christine Louden

Boss’s Daughter Vest, Wayne Top, Chisholm Trail Bandana Skirt,

Double D Ranch Accessory

Indigo Bedroll Dress, Long Tall Sally Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Double D Ranch Jewelry

Chisholm Trail Bandana Dress, Wide Open Trail Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Chisholm Trail Bandana Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Fine Print

When you dream in details, anything can be a canvas – and we’re playing with print on pretty much everything.

Incidentally, in this collection, some of what we printed on was actually canvas, keeping with the whole covered wagon vibe of Chisholm Trail; for instance, the Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Jacket is an unexpected combination of utilitarian canvas printed with a classic cattle drive motif and suede hand-embroidered with saddle stitching.. That’s just the beginning. Of course, you’ll find it in places you’d expect – your go-to graphic tees –but also in subtle and surprising incorporations, like detailed denims and star-striped velvets.

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Jacket, The Circle Dot Herd Workshirt, Mummy’s Bundle for Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Jacket, The Circle Dot Herd Workshirt, Mummy’s Bundle by Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Accessory

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Jacket, Double D Ranch Accessory

The Circle Dot Herd Workshirt, Bryce Henley, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry,

Two Step Dress, Spaghetti Western, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

All Across Texas Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessory

Stifel’d Creativity

Printed denim is more than a darling trend, it’s true to the times of the Trail. Stifel brand denim originated in the 1830s out of Wheeling, West Virginia, when a German immigrant named J.L. Stifel popularized an indigo-dyed calico (a fabric falling somewhere between muslin and canvas in terms of texture), often featuring the likes of polka dots, flowers, or dotted lines. Unfortunately, the company shuddered in 1957, making the vintage pieces boasting the famed boot logo a highly collectible commodity.

We were inspired to give new life to the look with our own interpretations of the indigo polka dot in our Circle Dot Herd pieces and the denim stripe in Pitchwagon Ticking.

Pitchwagon Ticking Jacket, Trail Supplies Top, Pitchwagon Ticking Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Accessory

Trail Supplies Top, Pitchwagon Ticking Pant, Oscar Betz for Double D Ranch, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Double D Ranch Accessory

Pitchwagon Ticking Jacket, Double D Ranch Accessory

Brand of the West Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Double D Ranch Accessories

Long Live the Longorn

It’s the ultimate icon of the cowboy lifestyle, and it’s showing up strong in accessories right now. From inlay to applique and belt buckles to boot shafts, country is cool again and we’re absolutely ’hook’ed!

Longhorn Pee Wee Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt