Ariat x XOXOart & Co: Limited-Edition Western Tees with Hand-Drawn Texas Art

Jessie Gibbons and Kim Neuendorff don’t just design T-shirts. They build stories you can wear. The mother-daughter team behind  XOXOart & Co. has spent over a decade turning their original art into everyday pieces that connect people to what they love: Western heritage, family, and their Texas roots.

Their latest chapter: a limited-edition collaboration with Ariat.

The Women Behind XOXOart & Co.

In 2012, XOXOart & Co. launched in a 10x10 temporary booth at the Dallas Market Center after Kim retired from a decades-long career teaching AP Art and started the company with her sister, Susan Walton, and longtime friend Ronda Von Minden-Nietsche. No frills, no line sheets—just Kim’s illustrations, matching turquoise V-necks, and a drive to keep creating. “Our first market looked like a garage sale,” Kim laughs. “Jessie was in college at the time but drove up to Dallas to help.” 

Years later, Susan retired, and Jessie came on board full-time, bringing her experience working in corporate advertising and a master’s in marketing along with her. “My mom has a master’s of fine arts degree in illustration,” she explains. “So, we had the perfect blend of her figurative drawing and my technical skills. Thanks to her I’ve been making art my entire life.”

The business has grown since those early days with a permanent showroom on the 14th floor of the Dallas Market Center, more retailers, and a tighter process, but their approach hasn’t changed. Every design still starts the same way: on paper.

Why XOXOart & Co. Starts With Hand-Drawn Art

Even in a digital world, they stay true to their roots by beginning every design by hand, with a pencil or a paintbrush. “We use various techniques, depending on the effect we want,” Jessie explains. “Then we scan the pieces and comp them digitally, especially for tees or scarves where we’re combining multiple drawn elements. It gives us full creative freedom.”

This method isn’t fast, and it can be labor-intensive. But for them, it’s the only way to work. “It’s our creative process, and it sets us apart,” says Kim. “Other companies might start digitally, but we’re creating art first, then turning it into clothing. We’re not just making T-shirts. We’re printing art.” And because they use direct-to-garment printing, they’re able to retain the full range of detail and color from the original art. 

Kim keeps a quote in her studio that reads:
"The beauty lies in that irregular quality of a line made entirely by the human hand.
That’s what we do,” she says. “Our work isn’t perfect, but it’s heartfelt.”

A Brand Rooted in Texas

Kim married into a family with deep Texas roots, and Jessie is a sixth-generation Texan who has a unique blend of influences to draw upon in her art. “Our family has been running cattle in central Texas since 1881,” she says. “One of our most popular designs is called 'Grandpa’s Wallpaper,' which is literally from my great-grandparents’ century-old farmhouse. We recreated the wallpaper and overlaid it with my grandpa’s handwriting.”

They also take inspiration and input from real-life cowboys and cowgirls. “We do our best to fact-check everything because we want the art to be both accurate and meaningful,” says Jessie. “We’re very lucky to have family in the rodeo world and incredible retailers that share pieces of their own lives with us.” That grounded and lived-in perspective shows up in every design. This isn’t about trends or aesthetic takes on cowboy life. It’s about real stories, translated into art.

A Collaboration Built on Shared Values 

Kim met Ariat co-founder and CEO Beth Cross in their showroom in the middle of a hectic day, and felt an instant connection with her. Beth suggested the idea of collaborating, and Kim was amazed and honored. “Beth was just so humble and sincere. I saw such alignment in our passions,” she says.

After that first meeting, Kim went home and did some reading on Beth and Ariat. “The more I read about her, the more I thought, ‘She’s an incredible businesswoman, yet remains so deeply grounded in her values.’ One of her quotes, 'If you fall off the horse, you get up and get back on,' really resonated since that’s been our story, too. So I stayed up all night thinking.” She called Jessie the next morning to share her ideas, and by the end of the morning, they had seven solid design concepts: each one infusing their signature style into details that are quintessentially Ariat.

From there, the collaboration moved fast.

The Ariat x XOXOart & Co. T-Shirt Collection

One tee pays homage to the Ariat brand in a more overt yet truly unique way. “The word ‘Ariat' on the postcard includes references to both Western and equestrian elements: a jumping horse, Beth’s dog, Secretariat wearing his checkered noseband,” says Kim. “It’s funky and fun, but it’s thoughtful too. We want people to look at the designs, feel proud to wear them, and connect to the brand.”

”Our goal is to help tell stories, so we always try to capture the essence of each place or partner, and with Ariat, we did the same,” Jessie adds.

There’s no wrong way to wear any of the tees in this collection. Each style is made to go where you go: the ranch, to dinner, at the rodeo, or just out running errands. They can stand alone or layer up. “That’s the beauty of a T-shirt,” Jessie explains. “We wear them casually when we’re working in the studio, but you can also dress them up with a fur vest like I did at the NFR.”

What Makes These Western Tees True Wearable Art

For XOXOart & Co., “wearable art” is the philosophy behind how they approach every new collection. “It’s about being the perfect accessory,” Kim explains. “Whether it's under a jacket, paired with a skirt, or worn with jeans at the barn, our pieces stand out. I love being that extra layer, that splash of color, that gets people asking, ‘What is that?’ Then they can share the story.”

Jessie adds that style is personal. “When someone sees something that reminds them of a family memory (like a horse that looks like theirs or a pattern like their grandpa’s old bandana), that connection is powerful. They can tell it didn’t come from a Google search; it came from a core memory.”

That’s what makes the collaboration special: it’s art that lives in the real world.

And they hope you love it. But more than that, they hope each style makes you feel proud to wear it. There are real people behind these designs, and real stories in the details. If you ask where it came from, there’s always an answer. “There’s a lot of copying out there now, especially with AI,” says Kim. “But we believe in going back through the history of the western lifestyle, studying art, and learning from the greats. I always tell Jessie, the idea is what matters most. Anyone can learn to draw or use a computer. But it is the idea behind the art that drives this company.”

FAQs

Q: What to wear with a Western shirt?

A: For a classic western look, style a vintage Western t-shirt or cowboy shirt with high-waisted jeans, cowgirl boots, and a leather belt. For women, layer a cowgirl top under a fringe jacket or denim vest to add flair. Accessorize with a hat or turquoise jewelry to complete the outfit.

Q: How to wear country graphic shirts?

A: Pair country shirts or cowgirl t-shirts with cutoffs, bootcut jeans, or a denim skirt for a casual, rodeo-ready vibe. Look for hand-drawn t-shirts or cowgirl shirts for women with bold graphics to make a statement. Finish the look with boots and a flannel tied at the waist.

Q: What should I look for in a cowgirl T-shirt?

A: Choose a cowgirl T-shirt with high-quality fabric, a flattering cut, and Western-inspired artwork. Hand-drawn or vintage-style graphics add character, while breathable materials make them perfect for everything from ranch work to rodeos.