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Comfortable fit: Grand Island couple purchases Barranada Shirt & Garment Co.
By Robert Pore
robert.pore@theindependent.com
A new brand has made its mark on Grand Island, and "bar none," it represents some of the finest shirts offered in the country.
The new brand is Barranada Shirt & Garment Co., 1711 S. Stuhr Road in Grand Island. The owners are Barbara and Gene Graves.
Barbara said she and Gene had long admired the Barranada company, which was owned by a woman in Texas. Barranada shirts first came on the market around 2003.
"We admired the quality and the fine fit of these shirts," she said.
The Graveses approached the Barranada owner three years ago to see if she would be interested in selling the business.
"Gene and I met with her several times, went to Texas and decided to buy the company," Barbara said.
Longtime equestrian enthusiasts, they became acquainted with Barranada shirts from the various equestrian shows they attended and competed in across the country, Gene said.
"It was a higher-end shirt that the show people liked," he said.
Barbara said it wasn't that they wanted a western shirt but "a quality shirt with a quality fit."
Among that equestrian crowd, Barranada shirts had an outstanding repetition for quality and excellence. The Barranada brand means "bar none," she said.
Barranada shirts, both men's and women's, are classic tailored 100 percent cotton shirts. Each is punctuated with buttons imprinted with the Barranada logo.
Since purchasing the business, Barbara said, they have improved the shirt's quality by improving the fabric. They have recently introduced five new fabrics to their design lineup, which is called the Five Card Stud series. They also plan to introduce new product lines in the fall.
Along with their quality, she said, Barranada shirts are very versatile. They're a perfect fit "from the arena to the board room," she said.
She said among the big purchasers of the Barranada brand are the cutting and quarter horse people who compete across the country at various shows. Along with talent and skill, judges are also keen on the appearance of the competitors, and that's one of the reasons horse riders and others like the Barranada brand.
Gene Graves is an executive committee member of the American Quarter Horse Association.
The shirts are also sold at selected retail outlets across the country. They can also be purchased at the business's Web site, www.barranada.com.
Here in Grand Island, the shirts can be seen at Ideal Cleaners, 504 W. First St.
Barbara said the shirts' fabric was especially made for them. A number of different colors are woven into the shirts' high-quality cotton to give it a special sheen appearance.
"All of our shirts have longer sleeves and longer tails. Plus, they have longer room on the back so you have a little room to move like when you are working a horse," she said.
Barbara emphasized, "These shirts are worn by western people, but they are not necessarily western shirts."
"A lot of western shirts have the snaps and the yoke on the back and two pockets with snaps," she said. "We didn't want the snaps. Most of the cowboys who show don't really want that look. They want a more business look."
What attracted the Graveses to the shirt was the fit, Barbara said.
"The fit is really a prime importance to us because it's important in any quality shirt," she said.
"You can put a tie on these and wear them with a coat or wear them with jeans," Gene said. "They are very, very versatile."
Barbara said they are now advancing their company by increasing the shirt's visibility in retail outlets across the country and planning new product lines. They have also advertised in the Cowboy and Indian magazine, which she said, "has been very good for our business."
When Gene is not in the shirt business, he is associated with Da-Ly Realty in Grand Island and Diamond G Auction Co. He is the former president of the Bosselman's Pump & Pantry division, and Barbara is the daughter of Fred and Maxine Bosselman, who founded the Bosselman business. Barbara worked as corporate secretary for many years, starting the business when she was 9 years old.
For Barbara, Barranada Shirt & Garment Co. is now a full-time occupation.
"This is a new and different venture for us," she said.
To learn more about the Barranada Shirt & Garment Co., visit its Web site at www.barranada.com.
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The new brand is Barranada Shirt & Garment Co., 1711 S. Stuhr Road in Grand Island. The owners are Barbara and Gene Graves.
Barbara said she and Gene had long admired the Barranada company, which was owned by a woman in Texas. Barranada shirts first came on the market around 2003.
"We admired the quality and the fine fit of these shirts," she said.
The Graveses approached the Barranada owner three years ago to see if she would be interested in selling the business.
"Gene and I met with her several times, went to Texas and decided to buy the company," Barbara said.
Longtime equestrian enthusiasts, they became acquainted with Barranada shirts from the various equestrian shows they attended and competed in across the country, Gene said.
"It was a higher-end shirt that the show people liked," he said.
Barbara said it wasn't that they wanted a western shirt but "a quality shirt with a quality fit."
Among that equestrian crowd, Barranada shirts had an outstanding repetition for quality and excellence. The Barranada brand means "bar none," she said.
Barranada shirts, both men's and women's, are classic tailored 100 percent cotton shirts. Each is punctuated with buttons imprinted with the Barranada logo.
Since purchasing the business, Barbara said, they have improved the shirt's quality by improving the fabric. They have recently introduced five new fabrics to their design lineup, which is called the Five Card Stud series. They also plan to introduce new product lines in the fall.
Along with their quality, she said, Barranada shirts are very versatile. They're a perfect fit "from the arena to the board room," she said.
She said among the big purchasers of the Barranada brand are the cutting and quarter horse people who compete across the country at various shows. Along with talent and skill, judges are also keen on the appearance of the competitors, and that's one of the reasons horse riders and others like the Barranada brand.
Gene Graves is an executive committee member of the American Quarter Horse Association.
The shirts are also sold at selected retail outlets across the country. They can also be purchased at the business's Web site, www.barranada.com.
Here in Grand Island, the shirts can be seen at Ideal Cleaners, 504 W. First St.
Barbara said the shirts' fabric was especially made for them. A number of different colors are woven into the shirts' high-quality cotton to give it a special sheen appearance.
"All of our shirts have longer sleeves and longer tails. Plus, they have longer room on the back so you have a little room to move like when you are working a horse," she said.
Barbara emphasized, "These shirts are worn by western people, but they are not necessarily western shirts."
"A lot of western shirts have the snaps and the yoke on the back and two pockets with snaps," she said. "We didn't want the snaps. Most of the cowboys who show don't really want that look. They want a more business look."
What attracted the Graveses to the shirt was the fit, Barbara said.
"The fit is really a prime importance to us because it's important in any quality shirt," she said.
"You can put a tie on these and wear them with a coat or wear them with jeans," Gene said. "They are very, very versatile."
Barbara said they are now advancing their company by increasing the shirt's visibility in retail outlets across the country and planning new product lines. They have also advertised in the Cowboy and Indian magazine, which she said, "has been very good for our business."
When Gene is not in the shirt business, he is associated with Da-Ly Realty in Grand Island and Diamond G Auction Co. He is the former president of the Bosselman's Pump & Pantry division, and Barbara is the daughter of Fred and Maxine Bosselman, who founded the Bosselman business. Barbara worked as corporate secretary for many years, starting the business when she was 9 years old.
For Barbara, Barranada Shirt & Garment Co. is now a full-time occupation.
"This is a new and different venture for us," she said.
To learn more about the Barranada Shirt & Garment Co., visit its Web site at www.barranada.com.
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