Gauchos: The South American Cowboy

The Gauchos are described as nomadic, colorful; 

“free spirits inseparable from their horse and knife.”

They were cowhands roaming the grasslands of Argentina in the late 18th and early 19th century. They arose to clandestinely hunt the overpopulated Cimarron cattle when leather was premium and in high demand.

Over time, the land was settled and the wilderness that once existed slowly dwindled, pushing out the need for the Gauchos. Little did they know, they would someday inspire fashion.

All photography is from Jimmy Nelson's book Before They Pass Away and was instrumental in inspiring Double D Ranch's Fall 2016 Collection.