Meet the Hoosier Designer Who's Dressing Celebrities and Preserving Western Clothing Heritage - Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Union Western owner Jerry Lee Atwood’s passion for custom chain stitch embroidery and western clothing design began in the early 2000s. Working at a coffee shop, a customer loaned him a book on the history of Western clothing. Having abandoned her art studies in search of her artistic voice, Atwood found inspiration in colorful embroidery and rhinestone-covered outfits.

Nostalgic memories of watching “Hee Haw” at her grandmother’s house and family vacations to Nashville fueled her interest. He bought fabric, beaded snaps, a western shirt pattern and borrowed a sewing machine from his roommate. Despite a difficult beginning, he found joy in sewing and taught himself through books and magazines.

“Despite my mediocre first attempt, there was something really enjoyable and exciting about sewing and I bought every book and magazine I could find on sewing and taught myself to sew,” Atwood said .

Atwood’s design process begins with a discussion with the client to understand their style, patterns and colors. He creates sketches, refines them with input from the client, and aims to balance their personality with his consistent style.

Finding a balance between traditional techniques and contemporary fashion trends is crucial for Atwood. His business partner, Joe David Walters, an avid collector of vintage western clothing, provides access to pieces by legendary tailors like Nudie Cohn and Nathan Turk. Examining these pieces helps Atwood incorporate traditional sewing techniques into her work while using modern materials for efficiency. It can take up to 120 hours to make a fully embroidered rhinestone suit, and the time-saving materials are invaluable.

One of Atwood’s most memorable projects was designing a costume for David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper on “Stranger Things,” for the Season 4 premiere. Harbour, having previously seen the work of Atwood for his wife, Lily Allen, requested a unique costume. Vogue magazine praised the costume, saying it “stole the show.”

“This kind of praise from Vogue is like what I imagine winning the Super Bowl is,” Atwood said.

Atwood advises aspiring designers to be themselves and focus on their vision rather than following trends or curating a social media presence. His approach to creating custom pieces for celebrities, including Post Malone and Lil Nas X, involves working closely with their stylists to reflect their vision.

For Orville Peck’s costume on the cover of the “Stampede Volume I” album, Atwood created a piece inspired by the costumes made for George Jones. The costume, notable for its understated yet refined style, was completed in a week without knowing its purpose until Peck revealed it on the cover.

Western clothing, once a niche fashion, has become a major trend. Atwood appreciates the interpretations of contemporary designers but remains influenced by traditional Western clothing. His work contributes to the resurgence and preservation of Western clothing, and he feels honored to be part of its legacy.

“The classic embroidered and rhinestone outfits that became popular in the 1930s and maintained a constant cultural fascination well into the 21st century were created by immigrants who incorporated elements of their cultural fashion into the clothes they made. ” » said Atwood. “I think in the future we see this same tradition continuing with Western clothing designers who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color making their voices heard in their designs.

Atwood’s influences include 20th-century Western tailors Nathan Turk, Rodeo Ben, and Nudie Cohn, as well as haute couture dress designer Charles James and fashion designer Alexander McQueen. These inspirations shape his unique approach to fashion design, balancing tradition and modernity.