I was truly thrilled to visit my friend and legendary fashion designer, Manuel Cuevas (known simply as Manuel), at his new design space and showroom a short walk from his home nestled on a scenic hillside south of Nashville. The spacious new structure with bright natural light and it’s high vaulted ceiling is filled with his beautiful clothes, fabrics, rhinestones, leather and memorabilia from his decades of designing and making clothes for country and rock & roll artists as well as movie stars. Autographed photos and guitars line the walls along with gorgeous embroidered and embellished jackets, dusters, and other pieces.

Manuel was busy at work when we arrived at his design space.

Manuel and I talked about his long, interesting and diverse career, and he has a lot of stories! After leaving his home in Mexico, Manuel began his career stateside in Los Angeles where he learned his craft working with other designers. Along the way he started designing one-of-a-kind outfits for well known musicians as well as stars of western movies and television shows. Edith Head, the legendary costume designer, was the person who told him he should be designing clothes for the stars. Manuel is very proud to show you the large horns above the fireplace in his home from the famous Ponderosa, home of Ben Cartwright, the main character on the Bonanza television series. Also in his living room is saloon owner, Miss Kitty’s piano from the Gunsmoke television show.

Beautiful one-of-a-kind custom jacket awaiting it’s owner.

Eventually moving to Nashville in the late 1990’s, Manuel opened his first location in an old Victorian home close to Music Row where I first met him. He has designed and made clothes for an endless list of country and rock stars as well as famous actors including Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Marlon Brando, Jack White, James Dean and dozens more.

I loved hearing all of Manuel’s great stories and thoughts about his life and career.

As a tribute to the United States, Manuel created his 50 State Jacket Collection, researching every state for the details on each jacket in this one-of-a-kind collection. It was an extraordinary accomplishment and the collection was debuted in 2005 at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, where I attended the opening event filled with his adoring fans and friends.

A few of Manuel’s 50 State Jackets that were featured at The Frist Art Museum in 2005. Each one was made from red, white or blue fabric featuring details of each state.

Manuel, also known as the Rhinestone Rembrandt, was busy at work when we arrived, but was welcoming and happy to see us. He proudly showed us around his new building which is eight months old and still a work in progress. He also showed me several things he was working on, and it was so interesting to see the process with patterns hanging on the wall, rolls of thread, bolts of fabric, scissors, sewing machines and other tools of the trade. It was a fun surprise when he flashed open his jacket and embroidered inside was “Designed for: Myself”!

We were graciously invited to join his wife, Ofelia, and Manuel at lunchtime at their house a short walk up the hill from his design studio. I was excited to see his 50 State Jacket collection, in beautiful red, white and blue colors, hanging in an upstairs balcony area. While Ofelia was preparing lunch he gave us a tour of his rustic home where he has lived for 30 years and even made much of the furniture himself. The house has two large rooms, one on the front and one on the back, that are designated as his American Indian room and the other his Mexican room filled with his collections of art and artifacts. The American Indian room is where he has his large horns from Bonanza over the mantle and Miss Kitty’s piano from Gunsmoke. If you step outside you will see a beautiful view of the rolling hills and around back a huge stage. He has hosted many fun parties there over the years with musicians that love Manuel bringing their instruments and performing to a large crowd of friends and family. And of course, there are the obligatory tequila shots. I have enjoyed a couple of those fun parties (including the tequila), too!

Inside Manuel’s jacket was a label embroidered “Designed for: Myself”.

At 91 years young, Manuel still has a gleam in his eyes and is just as excited about what he does as ever with his new design space, many adoring clients, and his wonderful partner and wife, Ofelia. It is not a job to him, but a labor of love. When I asked him what his most favorite part of what he does is, he quickly answered, “Dreaming and thinking about what I will do tomorrow.” Keep on dreaming, Manuel! I know your dreams and legacy will live on forever, my friend.

All photos by Adrian Eric Morales