Texas designer Lee Evans Lee creates a high-fashion Western wear brand gaining international attention.
HOUSTON — Texas designer blends Western wear with high fashion in rising rodeo-inspired brand
As rodeo season takes center stage in Texas, a local designer is making waves in the fashion world with a brand that merges Western wear, high fashion, and functionality.
Lee Evans Lee, founder of Mrs. Momma Bear, has crafted a clothing line that combines ranch-ready durability with runway-inspired style. Her pieces, made from a blend of nylon, Lycra, and spandex, are designed to be both machine-washable and versatile—able to transition seamlessly from the rodeo to the office.
“One of the biggest reasons I took the big leap was that there was a gap in the marketplace,” Lee said.
A Texas legacy inspiring fashion
Lee’s deep Texas roots play a major role in her designs. A fifth-generation rancher, she grew up in Rocksprings, Texas, where her family was known for raising Angora goats and sheep.
“Every summer, every spring break, while my friends were skiing or going to the beach, we were working on the ranch,” she recalled.
Her path to fashion, however, was far from traditional. After college, Lee worked in Spanish-language TV production before shifting to a career in counseling at a county hospital in San Antonio.
But after surviving breast cancer and facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee found herself returning to her roots — this time, with a new purpose.
“The idea started when my family and I were helping out a lot more on the ranch during COVID,” she said. “I had gone from wearing suits every day — sometimes scrubs — and now I was back at the ranch wearing Dickies and boot jeans. I thought, ‘There is no in-between.’”
From ranch to runway
Determined to create that missing “in-between,” Lee immersed herself in the fashion industry — researching the market and learning the art of design.
Less than two years after taking a leap of faith, Mrs. Momma Bear has gained international attention. Her garments have been showcased at trunk shows in Paris and New York, and she has plans for a solo show at New York Fashion Week this September.
Despite her rapid rise, Lee says some retailers struggle to categorize her line.
“Where do I put it on the floor of my store? I love that conversation. This is something completely brand new,” she said.
But Lee is embracing the ambiguity as she carves out her own space in the fashion world.
“That gut feeling that you know you’re supposed to do this — don’t back down. Persevere,” she said. “No matter how fearful I am, I can accomplish it, and I wanted to put that into my clothing.”
