Manuel is currently the reigning master of a style of couture long closely associated with Country Music, that has been described through its almost 100 year history as rodeo attire, fiesta dress, dude ranch duds or cowboy couture, and is surely familiar to anybody who has ever seen Porter Wagner, Little Jimmy Dickens or Dolly Parton glitter on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Beginning with Rodeo Ben, who designed clothing for Gene Autrey in the 30’s, and followed by the brilliant Nathan Turk who was the favorite of Roy Rogers and the glittering Maddox Brothers and Rose, the tradition of custom designing rhinestone and embroidered suits in brilliantly colored fabrics and luxe finishes and tailoring reached its peak when a dubious character from NYC named Nudie Cohn opened a shop in 1951 Los Angeles on Lankersham Boulevard called Nudie’s Western wear. It was here that Manuel got his first taste of custom designing for the reigning stars of the day. By the early 1960’s, Nudie employed 21 tailors, among them the young Manuel Cuevas, who quickly became the shop’s steward, overseeing every aspect of a garments creation. “That’s when I discovered what I wanted to do with my life”, Manuel has said. “I dressed artists in rhinestones, fringe and embroidery, and brought all this craftsmanship into clothing for entertainers. It was a wonderful time.”

Before long, a new set of country-rock pioneers discovered Nudie, beginning with Gram Parsons, who had him design and create a decidedly counter-culture garment, featuring marijuana leaves, poppy plants, pills, and naked women, known as the “Sin City” suit. Gram forged a friendship with Manuel and his boss Nudie, and he introduced them to his friends, including the Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, and his band, the Flying Burrito Brothers. Soon, customers included Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Elton John, who wore his best Nudie suit when presented to the Queen. Later, when Bob Dylan met the pope in 1997, he wore Manuel.