EPISODE
55
Season 2, Episode 16: Tony Lama x Ida Mae
EPISODE LINKS.
SHOW NOTES.
Tony Lama x Ida Mae Home: Behind the Collab
Host Natalie McFarland introduces McFarlane Minutes and interviews Emma (director of marketing and analytics at Tony Lama/Justin Brands) and Kristin (founder of Ida Mae Home) about a Tony Lama–inspired, Ida Mae–made product collaboration timed around Mother’s Day. Emma shares her path from Oregon to TCU and brand management at Tony Lama, and Kristin recounts her journey from accounting and retail buying to purchasing an importing business, then launching Ida Mae Home manufacturing in Fort Worth in 2020 to control quality, honoring her nana Ida Mae. They discuss why the brands fit—shared Texas roots, heritage, quality, and reaching women—plus the design process featuring subtle Tony Lama elements, boots, and equestrian motifs. They highlight a family-focused photo shoot, a fast launch supported by influencers and media, a Fort Worth outlet pop-up with a bloom bar, and plans to link landing pages and a Cowgirl Magazine article.
00:00 Welcome to McFarlane Minutes
00:33 Collab Announcement
01:01 Meet Emma Tony Lama
02:46 Meet Kristin Ida Mae
04:50 Why This Partnership Works
07:08 Quality Made in Texas
08:31 Designing the Pattern
12:06 Launch Marketing and Photoshoot
15:27 Why Brand Collabs Matter
17:41 Pop Up Event Sneak Peek
18:37 Key Takeaways and Legacy
19:46 Future Plans and Wrap Up
ABOUT THIS EPISODE.
Celebrating Texas Heritage: The Tony Lama x Ida Mae Collaboration
Welcome to the world of McFarlane Minutes, where creative minds converge to explore the nuances of collaboration, mentorship, and creative processes that define the film and production industry. Today, we’re thrilled to delve into a remarkable collaboration that celebrates heritage, craftsmanship, and the spirit of Texas.
Introduction: A Soft Launch to Monday
In this week’s episode, Natalie McFarland, founder and president of McFarlane Productions, is joined by Emma and Kristin from Tony Lama and Ida Mae Home. Together, they unravel the story behind their latest collaboration—a line of products inspired by Tony Lama and crafted by Ida Mae Home, unveiled in perfect time for Mother’s Day.
Bringing Heritage to Life
For Emma, Director of Marketing and Analytics at Tony Lama, and Kristin, Founder of Ida Mae Home, this collaboration is more than just a business venture; it’s a testament to their roots in Texas and a shared commitment to quality. Emma shared her ambitious journey from Oregon to Texas, eventually landing in a role where she manages the legacy brand, Tony Lama. Similarly, Kristin’s path reflects a transformational journey from accounting in London to founding Ida Mae Home, ignited by her entrepreneurial spirit and a love for creativity.
Creating the Perfect Blend
The partnership was born from a desire to blend the rich history of Tony Lama with the contemporary elegance of Ida Mae’s designs. As Emma explained, “We were missing the ladies… and this collaboration offered a perfect opportunity to infuse creativity and reach a wider audience.” The boot bag emerged as a standout piece, seamlessly weaving Tony Lama’s identity into Ida Mae’s craftsmanship.
Quality and Craftsmanship at the Heart
Both brands place a premium on quality, with Kristin stating, “Quality is just critical when it’s made here in Fort Worth, in the USA… We’re very specific about who we collaborate with.” This shared focus ensures every product embodies perfection, from the design phase to the final piece that bears her nana’s name, Ida Mae.
Behind the Scenes of the Collaboration
This partnership flourished with mutual respect and creativity. The design process involved integrating elements like boot prints and equestrian motifs while maintaining subtle nods to Tony Lama’s iconic brand. Emma emphasized the importance of not overwhelming the design, “But the key for us was really figuring out what felt like our brand.”
A Celebration of Mothers and Heritage
Anchored in time for Mother’s Day, this collaboration is personal for Kristin. Her journey as a mom and founder adds a deeper layer to the campaign’s narrative, echoing the values of both brands. The collaboration’s media rollout, including an engaging photoshoot that featured familial ties and captured the essence of both brands, promises a heartfelt connection with audiences.
Conclusion: A Testament to Collaboration
This joint venture exemplifies the power of collaboration in strengthening brand presence and fostering relationships. As Emma highlighted, “It’s a fun way to put our boots in the water, try something new, and see how it resonates.” For Kristin, aligning with a prestigious name like Tony Lama amplifies Ida Mae’s reach, embodying a shared legacy.
This Mother’s Day, celebrate the union of heritage, creativity, and craftsmanship through the Tony Lama x Ida Mae collection. Stay tuned for future endeavors as these brands continue to inspire through innovation and collaboration.
Join the Celebration
Explore the full range of products, and immerse yourself in this Texas-centric collaboration that promises to make waves in the fashion and lifestyle sectors. Links to both landing pages and an in-depth Cowgirl Magazine article about Kristin’s journey are included for you to discover more about this exciting partnership.
Thank you for being part of McFarlane Minutes as we celebrate visionary collaborations that elevate brands and unite communities.
IN THIS EPISODE.
Emma Benson & Kristen Kiseljack
Director of Brand and Marketing Analytics at Justin Brands and The founder of Ida Mae Home
https://www.idamaehome.com/
https://www.tonylama.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=742740674&gbraid=0AAAAADNnsI_2nDx78Aic9qKg4aGPAHRwJ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8PDPBhCeARIsAOJwmWXIg2TGJSuDGb3a6MO2e-FWdw9cV1OUrSd5KychY4u9zXY07ilBmcIaAne1EALw_wcB
Emma Benson: Emma is the Director of Brand and Marketing Analytics at Justin Brands, working across Tony Lama, Chippewa, and Justin Boots. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon, majoring in International Business and Marketing and minoring in Spanish. After graduating, she quickly decided to return to school and earned her MBA from Texas Christian University, with a concentration in Brand Management and a certificate in Data Analytics. She fell in love with Fort Worth and knew she wanted to be at a company she could resonate with in both its products and customers, which led her to Justin and Tony Lama. Her focus is on shaping how heritage brands show up today, blending storytelling, product, and strategy. She grew up around horses and in the Western industry, which gave her a deep appreciation for the people, relationships, and lifestyle that define it.
Kristen Kiseljack: Kristen started Ida Mae Home in honor of her grandmother, Ida Mae Grant, a strong, creative, and feisty woman. Raised on a farm outside Waco, her grandmother grew up quilting and passed down stacks of well-loved quilts. Along with them, she shared a love for good stories on the porch and homemade meals from her garden. She recognizes that these are uncertain times but hopes to bring a sense of stability and happiness to her corner of the world through Made in Texas quilted, handmade products. She hopes others experience this heritage through the brand’s quilts and textiles.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS.
NATALIE MCFARLAND
PRESIDENT, FOUNDER
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
After freelancing her way through college, Natalie established McFarland Productions in 2014, which has continued to grow rapidly over the last few years. Her passion and focus have always remained the same; capturing, understanding, preserving and promoting Ranching, Farming, Western Lifestyle and AgriBusiness. She has always had a love for the western culture and even at a young age it was unmistakably clear she would someday find a career serving the industry.
Natalie grew up on a small ranch, rodeoed, showed horses in a variety of disciplines, showed livestock, and participated in 4H and Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. She has trained herding dogs and started colts, worked with sheep and cattle and has had the experience of racing to finish up a hayfield before a rainstorm hit. She understands the joys, sorrows, wins, losses and hard work of ranchers and farmers. That’s why McFarland Productions can produce authentic marketing campaigns for the businesses, organizations, events, and brands of the western and agriculture industry – it’s who she is.
With a passion for building community surrounding brands, Natalie focuses on building real connections between companies/brands and the people that make up their community. Telling the stories of your customers and making them apart of the brand’s story is her main focus. Creating real, human, meaningful connections and strengthening community within the western and agriculture industry through strategic marketing services.
SCOUT FOSTER
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC STORYTELLING
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
Scout’s faithfulness to the agriculture and western sports industry is rooted in tradition. Growing up in Central Florida, she stood by her family as they supported different sectors of the industry, including raising beef cattle, bucking bulls for local rodeos, and spending weekends with her grandparents who lived on Disney’s Wilderness Preserve.
Moving away from The Mouse, Scout graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Nation’s top agricultural communications college at Texas Tech University in 2022.
Now residing in Crockett, she and her husband, Lane, keep busy raising beef cattle and bucking bulls with her family. Scout also loves gardening, raising chickens, reading, and her two dogs: Rue and Dill.