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Wrangler has its roots in the Hudson Overalls Company of Greensboro, NC. Founded in 1904 it was renamed Blue Bell in 1919 (some sources say 1908). For years they manufactured work clothing for men and during WWII they manufactured clothing for military use. After the war, in an attempt to compete with the jeans makers Levi Strauss and Lee, they decided to develop a brand name they had acquired in 1943 when they bought the Casey Jones Company. This brand was Wrangler.

In 1947 Blue Bell hired a renowned rodeo tailor, Ben Lichtenstein, or Rodeo Ben, to develop a line of jeans under the Wrangler name. The line was successful and so the Wrangler name was also used for other denim clothing, including that for women and children.

In 1986, Blue Bell and Wrangler were bought by the VF Corporation.

Written by fuzzylizzie

See vintage Wrangler from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)


from a 1950s shirt - Courtesy of glamoursurf

from a 1950s shirt

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from a 1960s pair of jeans - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1960s pair of jeans

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from a 1960s pair of jeans - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s pair of jeans

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from a 1960s shirt - Courtesy of catseyevintage

from a 1960s shirt

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from a late 1960s shirt - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a late 1960s shirt

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from an early 1970s jean shirt - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from an early 1970s jean shirt

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from a 1970s blazer - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1970s blazer

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from a 1970s garment - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1970s garment

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from a 1970s garment - Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1970s garment

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from a later-1970s/early-1980s corduroy jacket - Courtesy of dollsntrolls

from a later-1970s/early-1980s corduroy jacket

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from a 1980s shirt - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1980s shirt

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from a 1980s shirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1980s shirt

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from 1980s jeans - Courtesy of mags_rags

from 1980s jeans

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from 1980s jeans - Courtesy of mags_rags

from 1980s jeans

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from a 1980s blouse - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1980s blouse

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from a 1990s mens shirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1990s mens shirt

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from a 1990s shirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1990s shirt

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from a 1990s womens shirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1990s womens shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage