Smith turns opportunity into business
CALLAWAY - If you walk into a feed store, sale barn or any other place that ranchers and cowboys tend to be, you may notice them adorned with brightly colored scarves tied around their necks. Commonly referred to as wild rags, these silky scarves are essential to keeping warm in the cold Nebraska weather. Although they have been worn for generations by cowboys, wild rags have significantly grown in popularity in the last decade and are a staple in many Nebraskan’s wardrobes.
Zane Smith recognized the demand for these wild rags and started a small business, Z-Rags, to make the hand-crafted scarves. Smith grew up on a ranch outside of Broken Bow and attended Chadron State College where he got his degree in Ag Business. He now lives in Callaway and day works in the area for various feedlots, checking pens on horseback.
Smith got started with his Z-Rags business in 2013 while he was attending college. His friends were always looking for wild rags that were bigger than the standard sizes they could buy in a store. He started doing research on different fabric options that would provide warmth, be easy to work with and remain cost effective. There weren’t a lot of other people making wild rags at the time so he knew there was a good market for them. “I knew how to run a sewing machine so I thought, ‘I bet I can do that,’” Smith explained. “Everyone else was doing leatherwork or beading so I saw an opportunity to do something different. Not a lot of people have the skill to sew these days.” Smith learned how to sew in 4-H and was ready to put his skills to good use.
To make the wild rags, Smith buys fabric in a store or online by the yard. He uses three different types of polyester materials: charmeuse, crepe or peach skin. All of his material is machine washable and the wild rags are 45 inches by 45 inches when completed. He starts by cutting the material down to size and then sews the edges. He has a distinct way of finishing the edge by sewing it and then melting