Old West Style Leather Coats   by  Michael J. Guli of River Crossing Inc.

Mike models a long Metis-inspired coat, with hand-painted geometric patterns and nickel-silver buttons.

 

Metis Coats

In the late 1700’s along the American-Canadian border, trappers intermarried with Native women from local tribes. Their descendents formed a distinctive society of their own called the Metis, with their own language, art and clothing styles. These coats show the influence of two different worlds, combining the cut and fit of men’s European designs with the artistic qualities of the Native people, who often decorated their pieces with painted or beaded floral or geometric patterns. These coats are made of the finest deerskin for durability, comfort and beauty. These coats are a wonderful example of the artistic interaction of two different cultures

 

The Vaquero Coat

In the mid-1800’s, artist James Walker produced a number of paintings that featured the Vaquero, master horsemen of Spanish blood who came to this country during the late 1500’s. We owe much of our cowboy knowledge, culture and language to these riders who were descended from the knights of Spain. This coat is inspired by these talented men who often wore their wealth on their body in the form of flashy clothing. Made of ranch-raised deer hide, and decorated with nickel silver conchos, this short-waisted coat features beautiful details and would have been worn with a distinctive sash at the waist. As in the past, this eye-catching coat is still all about confidence and attitude.

Click here to view our full Vaquero page!

 

The Santa Fe Coat

This head-turning Southwestern-styled deerskin coat is truly a piece of wearable art. Its design was inspired in large part by an Apache-style buckskin coat that Mike studied from a museum collection. He then added the Santa Fe influences of a small folded-down collar and plenty of silver accents. What is most distinctive on this stunning piece is the two-tone hand-twisted fringe, which showcases the contrast of the inner and outer sides of the deerskin. This showy coat with its historic touches continues to stop traffic and draw envy at every event.

 

The Scout Coat

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More pictures to come!

Call today to discuss your own custom-designed coat by artist Michael J. Guli.

Deerskin Leather Colors:

Palomino	Dusk	Distressed	Mahogany	Black

(Dye lots and computer screens will vary)