Branded Wildrag

A study of the very first cattle brands registered in the state of California, hand printed on silk. Taken from the fragile, hand written pages of the first Book of Brands in the county recorder’s office in Los Angeles. It’s worn, brittle pages contain early entries dating from 1833 to 1852.

Because of California's countless growing herds grazing over unfenced leagues, the branding mark of the Spanish-Mexican ranchero became his crest. Like a coat of arms this was safeguarded by registry filed in the hands of the civil authorities and handed down from father to son. A daughter's dowry was a separate brand and a herd of cattle.

No regal coat of arms has ever served more proudly and accurately than the crest of the ranchero's branding iron. By this, he and his family are still remembered.

A “wild rag” is a cowboy or western scarf worn around the neck. Wild rags have been around since the 1800s and traditionally used as protection from the elements. They’re typically much larger than a bandana or neckerchief and are more functional and can serve many practical uses on the trail or on the town. We make our wild rags from the finest 100% silk we can source, hand dye them with natural dyes in small batches, then hand print each one, one at a time. Each piece is one of a kind, with subtle variations in color and pattern, that is a testament to the hand made nature of this product.

For nearly 5000 years silk has been sought after because it is naturally warm, breathable, insulates and is lightweight. Silk is an ideal fiber when worn next to the body. Unlike polyesters and cotton, silk wicks away moisture, while keeping the body warm and dry, making it one of the most absorbent of the natural fibers. It is warmer than wool and gets even softer with wear.

• 33” x 33”

• 100% Silk

• Hand made, dyed and printed and in our Ventura studio