Quintessential Cowgirl: An Interview with Brooke Teixeira

Brooke Teixeira, our Director of Western Denim and Women's Western Apparel, is a quintessential cowgirl.

Despite growing up in a ranching and rodeo family, she didn’t always know she wanted to work in Western product merchandising. But soon after graduating from college, she found her way to Ariat and has been involved in launching some of our most successful Western boots and jeans.

Beyond being integral to Ariat’s product creation process, Brooke is making a name for herself in the Western world. Last year, she was recognized as one of Cowgirl Magazine’s 30 Under 30, which honors 30 women under 30 years of age who have shown significant dedication to the Western industry.

Perhaps the most impressive part? Brooke has accomplished all of this while she and her husband raise their 1-year-old son, Hansen, and pursue their passion for training horses, giving roping lessons, and competing at a professional level.

We recently sat down with her to learn a little more about her role at Ariat, her career in the Western industry, and how she brings your favorite Western denim styles to life each season.

What is your official title?

I’m the Director of Western Denim and Women's Western Apparel here at Ariat.

How long have you been at Ariat?

I've been at Ariat for almost nine years.

During that time, I've worked on both footwear and apparel teams. This gives me a unique approach to working on denim because I'm so familiar with our shoe styles and footwear trends. When I'm working with a denim designer, I’m always thinking about how our denim styles will pair with our boots or other footwear styles like Cruisers and Hilos.

How did you get into Western apparel?

I grew up in a rodeo and ranching family and have competed in rodeos my whole life, moving up through the ranks from junior rodeo all the way to college rodeo. Now, I compete professionally as a breakaway roper. I love my job because it's so closely related to the life I live. Every day, I get to put on my own Ariat jeans that I helped create and go ride my horses and rope.

Congratulations on being one of Cowgirl Magazine's 30 Under 30! What was the experience like?

Thank you – it's such an honor. There are so many incredible and influential women in the Western space, and it’s special that Cowgirl Magazine brings these women together each year to meet and mingle. I made so many new, lifelong friends within my year's class of women.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I am a competitor myself, so I understand the importance of how our products function in the arena, but I also enjoy dressing up and expressing myself with Western flare in my outfits! Every day, I get the opportunity to work with an incredibly talented team and share details about living the Western way of life.

I also love collaborating with our denim designers to bring pieces to life. I start by giving the designers a big-picture idea of the styles we want to focus on for the season. Once they bring their designs back, I help select the details like the pockets or a wash for each piece we're working on. It’s so fun putting all these individual elements together to create beautiful garments for our customers.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

We launch new styles each season, so it can be a challenge to make sure we have something new for everyone that checks every box: trend-right, quality, durability, fit, comfort, etc. Everyone has a few pairs of denim in their closet, and we want ours to stand out.

What trends will we be seeing in Ariat’s upcoming denim launches?

Soon, you’ll see new women’s styles that deliver on the 90’s look that’s trending right now. We’re also launching styles that go after the mom-jean trend, more high-waisted styles, and some super wide-leg jeans – all with Western flair. For men, we’ll be expanding on some fits that are a little more snug and slim-cut, to target that classic Western consumer. The future of denim really lies in the crosshairs of blending old-school and new-school styles.

You can always count on Ariat for trend-right Western denim with unsurpassed quality, durability, fit, and comfort.

In addition to having a fulfilling career, you're also a mom. How do you balance your career and your family?

I think this is the biggest challenge for any working mom! I take pride in putting 100 percent effort into both jobs – my job as a wife/mom and my career at Ariat. I make sure that when I am not working, I am spending time with my family. We do everything together – go to rodeos and ropings, ride horses together at home, and spend a lot of time outside. We value our time together and I think quality time is the best way to find that balance.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a mom?

For me, it's watching our son learn about the Western way of life. He loves to ride, chase the roping steers, and help out around our home. Every day he wants to wear his Ariat cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. We try to include him in everything and he picks up on so much just being involved! I love watching him pick up not only the things we teach him, but also the things he discovers on his own.

What is a valuable lesson you learned from your mom that you hope to instill in your son?

If I had to pick just one, it would be the value of hard work, grit, and taking care of animals. My own mom is the toughest woman I know and will outwork almost anyone. She has taught me to show up and work for you want. No one is going to do it for you – you have to be self-driven and motivated to accomplish things for yourself.

I hope my son learns all these lessons as they go hand-in-hand. He is learning the importance of taking care of his animals and the value they add to his life. It is really hard work, and sometimes, it takes extra grit to get out there in a blizzard and make sure the chores are done. I hope he experiences a hard day’s work and learns the importance of putting in the time until the job is done.