Nudie Beginnings

Tex Williams got to know Nudie well and gave Nudie a horse and saddle for auction for $150. to get his first sewing machine. Nudie set up shop in his garage. Once again Tex Williams gave Nudie his second big brake when he asked Nudie to make costumes for Tex and his band. This was really the beginning of Nudie's success, he opened his shop in North Hollywood in 1947. He turned out thousands of garments. Hank Williams was one of the first in Nashville to wear a Nudie suit and after his big success everyone in Nashville Wore Nudie's suits. Throughout Nudie's career, he continued to make costumes for the movies (mainly westerns). John Wayne had clothing made by Nudie. Colonel Parker, Elvis's manager had Nudie make Elvis a 24k gold lame' suit at a cost of $10,000 for Elvis and $9,000 profit for Nudie. By the late 1960's Nudie had become a living California legend.