An icon of the American West, the tumbleweed, begins with the death of the Russian thistle. In winter, it breaks off at the stem and begins its journey as a tumbleweed blowing around the desert spreading seeds as it bounces along.
Some of those seeds have spread almost 2,000 miles to Aiken. TumbleWeed opened a couple of months ago at 216 Park Avenue, a store that carries all things western from cowboy hats to boots, belts, halters and handwoven blankets.
Aiken is famous for thoroughbred racing and polo matches, but apparently there’s room for one more breed in the barn for apparel for the two-legged owners for stylin’ around town.
“Yes, it’s a thoroughbred town, but even the English riding style customers are coming in because they also love to wear the western style,” explained owner Jessica Reeves.
Originally from Atlanta, Reeves was working in brand marketing when her husband’s job brought them to Aiken 10 years ago. Neither of them was part of the horsey set.
“My family rode horses and when we moved here, I needed a hobby,” Reeves said. “I got a job working on a horse farm and later at a tack shop.”
That experience led to buying two quarter horses. Later Reeves became involved in the Trainer Incentive Program (TIP), through the Mustang Heritage Foundation and Bureau of Land Management to adopt mustangs.
“The ideal would be to let them roam wild, but dwindling forage from wildfires and the drying up of water supplies led me to help by training and adopting them,” she said. “We now have four mustangs.”
TumbleWeed was born out of a love for western horses and has grown into a love of supplying western wear and horse gear to match the growth of the breed in the CSRA.
Her goal is to carry inventory made in the USA, preferably by other women-owned businesses, handmade, sustainable products, or items you can’t find anywhere else.
“Our biggest seller is the handmade Hair on Hide boots,” Reeves said. “They are unique and are flying off the shelf. Cowboy hats and men’s western-themed items are also popular because there are few options in the area to find them.”
TumbleWeed also has a variety of jewelry, gift items and CBD products for horses and humans.
Reeves is dreaming big and there are other products and services they look to offer as they continue to grow. Their location was formerly the storefront for the Gypsy Belt Company. Owner Adrianne Till is still handcrafting leather products in the back of the store.
Like the growing population of chickens, goats, dogs and horses on her farm, you can look for TumbleWeed to keep spreading the seeds of business growth in the CSRA.
For more information on TumbleWeed visit their Facebook page.
