Pair of Kings: A Fashion and Culture Podcast · Pair of Kings

Dr. Sonya Abrego (@sonyaabrego) on Men's Westernwear, The History of American Denim, and Where to Buy Vintage Jeans | 13.8

·1 hr 15 min·2 clips

I'm wearing vintage Levi 501s from the sixties - actually sixties official, not reproductions.

Pair of Kings podcast hosts interview Dr. Sonya Abrego, Parsons professor and western wear historian. Wearing authentic vintage pieces (1960s Levi 501s, 1950s Hopalong Cassidy sweatshirt), Abrego explains post-WWII western wear explosion driven by manufacturing advancement and middle-class consumption. Discussion covers design semiotics (cattle brands, lazy S stitching, arrow pockets), brand differentiation strategies (Levi's heritage marketing vs. Wrangler's rodeo focus), and the ongoing impact of Cone Mills closure on modern denim authenticity. Explores how functional ranch wear elements became decorative language in contemporary fashion.

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