4

fShare

Tweet

Manuel has been designing costume western-wear clothing for decades.

He is responsible for making Johnny Cash the man in black and crafting Elvis’ signature gold lamé suit. You can also thank him for both The Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead’s notorious insignias.

Manuel, eschews digitized, you-watch/it-sews embroidery machines, but he can. He has a 25-year partnership with Pancho Martinez, who performs free-motion machine embroidery "like a hurricane." Take a peek as Pancho sews a four-colored poppy bouquet in less than 10 minutes.

For a complete profile on this fashion legend, read "Meet Manuel, King of the Cowboy's Closet," in the October/November 2002 issue of Threads (#103).