Some jeans are created to make a moment. Others are created to define a brand.
At Kimes Ranch, two styles—Betty and Barney—do more than anchor the men’s and women’s collections. They tell the origin story of the brand itself. Named after the longhorns that once lived on the Kimes Ranch in Arizona, these original jeans represent the balance of grit and refinement that has guided Kimes Ranch from the very beginning.
With Valentine’s season quietly in the background, this isn’t a story about romance in the traditional sense. It’s a story about partnership, longevity, and thoughtful design. It’s about how the original women’s western jean and the original men’s western jean helped shape a modern western luxury brand and why they continue to matter today.
A Brand Built on Ranch Life, Not Trends
Before Kimes Ranch became known for its clean lines and premium construction, it was simply an idea rooted in everyday western life. In the late 2000s, Matt and Amanda Kimes were riding, ranching, and competing, relying on their clothing to work as hard as they did. What they found was a gap in the market. Western jeans were either tough but unrefined, or polished but impractical.
The goal wasn’t to reinvent denim it was to refine it. Betty and Barney were created as solutions, not statements. They were shaped by long days in the saddle, time spent working cattle, and the reality of wearing the same pair of jeans from morning chores to evening plans.
Those first two styles set the standard for what Kimes Ranch would become: western apparel designed with intention, built for longevity, and grounded in real use.
Why Betty and Barney Were More Than Names
Naming the first jeans after ranch longhorns accidental. Betty and Barney were part of daily life on the ranch, symbols of steadiness and presence. They were worn, tested, adjusted, and worn again in real ranch conditions.
They also reflected balance— men’s and women’s denim developed side by side, strength paired with refinement, work paired with style. That balance remains a defining characteristic of Kimes Ranch today.
Even as the brand evolved through different names before landing on Kimes Ranch, Betty and Barney remained part of the story. They were the beginning, and in many ways, they remain the blueprint.
Betty: The Original Women’s Jean
When Betty launched, women’s western denim often missed the mark. Fit was inconsistent, comfort was secondary, and riding functionality was frequently overlooked. Betty challenged that status quo.
Designed as a mid-rise jean with a properly fitted upper thigh and knee, Betty was built to accentuate the leg while allowing freedom of movement. The modest bootcut creates a clean line over boots or tucked in, making the jean equally suitable for riding and everyday wear.
Fabric choice played a major role in Betty’s success. Constructed from 13 oz denim with 99% cotton and 1% spandex, the fabric prioritizes structure while allowing just enough flexibility for comfort.
Because of that structure, fit matters. Betty’s denim has less stretch than lighter, fashion-oriented jeans, which is why sizing down is recommended. The result is a jean that fits correctly throughout the day instead of becoming loose and shapeless.
What truly sets Betty apart is versatility. It’s a jean that performs in the saddle, stands up to ranch work, and still looks polished enough for life beyond the barn. Betty helped elevate expectations for women’s western riding jeans, proving that performance and style could coexist.
Barney: The Men’s Jean That Started It All
Barney is where the men’s side of the Kimes Ranch story began. As the original men’s jean, it reflects the brand’s earliest commitment to clean design, durability, and fit that works in real western environments.
Barney features a mid-rise waist, a slim fit through the seat and thigh, and a classic bootcut leg opening. It’s a silhouette that feels timeless rather than trendy, designed to pair naturally with western boots and everyday workwear.
Made from 13 oz, 100% cotton denim, Barney is unapologetically durable. The fabric provides the structure needed for riding and ranch work while allowing the jean to break in naturally over time. For longtime customers, Barney’s return is a reminder of where the brand began. For new customers, it’s an introduction to the foundation of Kimes Ranch men’s denim.
Barney doesn’t rely on embellishment or excess. Its strength lies in simplicity, consistency, and thoughtful construction, qualities that continue to define the brand.
The Role of 13 oz Denim in Western Jeans
Both Betty and Barney share a defining feature: 13 oz denim. In denim manufacturing, fabric weight measured in ounces per square yard, directly affects durability, structure, drape, and longevity. While lighter weights are common in fashion denim, weight plays a much larger role in western and work-oriented jeans.
Industry standards generally categorize denim by weight. Lightweight denim, typically in the 8–10 oz range, is soft and flexible but not designed for demanding use. Midweight denim, around 10–12 oz, works well for casual wear and light riding. The 13–14 oz range is widely regarded as a traditional western and workwear sweet spot, offering a balance between structure and comfort. Textile and denim resources such as Denimhunters have long noted that this midweight range allows denim to hold its shape, resist abrasion, and break in naturally over time.
At 13 oz, the denim used in Betty and Barney is heavy enough to withstand saddle friction, mounting and dismounting, and daily wear, while still being comfortable for all-day use. This weight helps prevent premature stretching, supports the jean’s silhouette, and contributes to the long lifespan riders and ranchers expect from premium western denim.
A Quiet Valentine’s Story of Partnership
The connection between Betty and Barney feels especially fitting this time of year, not because of hearts or slogans, but because of what they represent together. They are complementary, developed side by side, each strong on its own but better as part of a whole.
Much like the partnership behind Kimes Ranch itself, these two jeans reflect shared values: integrity, balance, and long-term thinking. It’s a reminder that the strongest foundations, whether in business, design, or life, are built deliberately and allowed to stand the test of time.
Why Original Styles Still Matter
In an industry driven by constant releases and changing trends, original styles carry a different kind of weight. Betty and Barney remind us that when something is designed correctly from the start, it doesn’t need reinvention every season.
They are proven, trusted, and enduring. They represent where Kimes Ranch began and why it continues to resonate with those who live and work in the western world.
This Valentine’s season, we’re not celebrating trends. We’re celebrating roots, resilience, and relationships built to last—told through two original jeans and 13 oz of honest denim.
Because some stories don’t need embellishment. They just need time.
