New fashion venture brings authentic taste of west to Warwick

Taking the leap into a new industry after 14 years in hairdressing, this Rose City cowgirl’s clothing brand is giving the latest fashion from Texas and the US a home right here in Warwick.

Warwick resident Carney Dwan has launched online fashion boutique Shoulda Been a Cowboy. Picture: contributed / Carney Dwan

Inspired by her family’s passion for horses, the country and her own love of fashion, a Warwick woman has launched a clothing brand to bring authentic western clothing to the Rose City.

Carney Dwan’s online boutique Shoulda Been a Cowboy has been going from strength to strength since it launched in February, with its range of American-western fashion being bought up across the country.

Taking the leap into the fashion industry after 14 years in hairdressing and running her own salon, Bella Cabello, for five of those, the businesswoman said the clothing brand had always been a dream of hers.

“My mum’s always been pretty groovy and I’ve always liked her style, and I’m one of four girls so you can imagine what our house was like when we were growing up,” Mrs Dwan said.

“I’ve always been pretty mad about American-western fashion, and I’ve been to the (United) States a handful of times.

“I first went over when I was 16 and noticed over there that we’re so far behind in Australia with the up-to-date fashion, probably two years behind, and I wanted to bring that back over here.”

Warwick resident Carney Dwan has launched online fashion boutique Shoulda Been a Cowboy. Picture: contributed / Carney Dwan

Mrs Dwan sources most of her clothing line from designers in Texas, US, and has recently introduced a new range of custom-made jewellery made in New Mexico.

With she and her husband both passionate campdrafters and coming from an agricultural background, Mrs Dwan said the Shoulda Been a Cowboy range was largely curated for fellow “cowgirls”.

“Probably one of the biggest things I’ve noticed is people don’t want to be wearing the same as someone else, they want really individual pieces,” she said.

“I’ve noticed a bit of a gap in the market. Everyone’s at home more and I know myself I’ve been shopping online a lot more, so I thought now was the best time to test it out.”

Despite already being locked in as an equine photographer for this year’s Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft, Mrs Dwan said it would be the ideal location for a pop-up stall.

“I post all over Australia, including a lot in Victoria and a lot in the NT. I also deliver around town once a week, and that’s pretty widespread too,” she said.

Click here to visit the Shoulda Been a Cowboy website and Facebook page.