Dixie has a gift she won't tell you about so I will. Sometimes, I think our best reflection of God’s gifting comes about in a combination of 2 things: 1. Something he created in us very early, like we were born to do it, and 2. Something hard, often painful, that we have to overcome in life. Dixie's gift that I am talking about came about this way. She didn't always have great style, and even described her childhood style as: not cute, tom boy, sport jock- even wearing boys clothes sometimes!
Dixie grew up with some very down to earth and incredible women, her mom and 2 grandmothers who taught her how to cook, work hard and sew her own clothes in 4-H. She remembers many times her grandma Gertie making her rip out the stitches in a project she was sewing so she would do it again and do it right! She then would model her clothes at county and state fair where she won many awards for her sewing and modeling. Imagine that, Dixie won at modeling! I am going to come out and say it, my wife is beautiful, she was born that way and that is something about her that she just got, didn't have to work for. I am literally laughing out loud as I write this… today we walked by a booth selling books, the lady asked if we were readers, Dixie said “not really” to which the lady replied “you don't have to, you are very pretty”. Hahahaha! I don't even know what that means, but I am not the only one who thinks my wife is gorgeous!
There is a second part to this. Something not so funny. It is what I would call an ‘acquired’ gift. These gifts or abilities do not come naturally but are born out of difficulty and become part of our make-up because we have to overcome something hard. It may require a lot of work to become a reflection of something good.
This is the way Dixie’s gift of design came about. Maybe you or I would like to think that she knew how to style herself from the first time that she was able to actually dress herself, pick out cute things to go together as a toddler and her style grew from something that was ordained in her from birth- but that is not the case at all! It came out of a difficult time in her young life.
The Vintage Cowgirl Collection is the 9th complete collection that she designed and is sure to be a huge hit. The first collection was the Cactus Collection that she designed in 2021. Before that, she picked individual bags, patches, belts, that looked great on their own or would look great together. The collections were a big step and a big risk from- designing this bag or that belt- to becoming a real designer that studies inspiration, practices discipline, and pours time over what turns out to be a work of art in the end (art that is designed to be transformed again and again).
BUT in high school, things were a lot different. Dixie may have won awards in 4H, but not around her early peers. She did not grow up with money and she did not get accolades for her outfits or compliments on her sense of style very often. Her desire to look nice came from avoiding teasing from classmates. Teen years can definitely be challenging as you are searching for your identity. She would have worn a lot more outfits if she could have afforded them; it was a trying time in her life.
What others used as hurtful, God used for good. Instead of being bitter, Dixie learned (and practically invented) how to take what she had, and make a new look out of it instead of throwing it away. The first time she started to turn the corner on her fashion, she simply cut up an old t-shirt to make a different outfit without having to spend money. She wore it to Cheyenne Frontier Days and got a lot of compliments- on her refashioned t-shirt!
Her real confidence in fashion didn't come until married life, after kids, in her 30’s. And she still works hard at her style and fashion. She spends hours looking through different kinds of fashion, never copying, but getting inspiration and putting together ideas, colors, shapes, and ultimately a new collection like this one!
The need to get the best value for your money in fashion and not be wasteful, has become the core of who Pure Dixie is. We do not want to sell you 2 minis so you can have 2 looks, we want to sell you one beautiful mini and 2 patches! Or a belt that will also function as a decorative purse strap! We want your collection of patches to be worn on your fashion hat, cap, mini, belt, or the front of your handbag. We want you to mix and match our collections to create your own personal collection that reflects who you are as a person as unique as Dixie, and maybe a patch or 2 that shows something you have overcome.
We have all had trials in our lives, and God does not mean for them to destroy us, but to build us up. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. In her young life, if Dixie had the money to go shopping on a regular basis- and avoid the hurtfulness of being teased for her lack of wardrobe- you know she would have. But she didn't have a choice and she used what she had, unbeknownst to her, that would lead to the creation of a company that she would use to glorify God and to build a world where fashion isn’t disposable—but designed to transform, again and again.
Dixie is beautiful inside and out. Her inward beauty has come through trials, humility, knowing Jesus, having a sincere love for people, and knowing her place in this world. We have all had something painful to overcome, God wants to be there for us in those times and ultimately use them to His glory!