Paige Callaway is a designer who has founded several fashion brands, including Wild Rose Clothing, Pursue Victory, Paige 1912, and C5 Brand. Learn more about her biography and the history of her brands below on calgarynka.
Childhood and Passion for Horses
Paige grew up near Calgary in the town of Priddis. Her love for horses was instilled by her great-grandfather, who was a cowboy and one of the first settlers in Bragg Creek. He participated in the first Calgary Stampede in 1912. Her uncles and mother were also involved in rodeo.
Paige discovered her passion for barrel racing early. At the age of 11, she achieved her first victory on a 3-year-old buckskin horse named Trigger. During her early high school years in Okotoks, Alberta, she competed in all possible rodeo events with Trigger.
From a young age, Paige dreamed big about rodeo, setting a goal to participate in barrel racing while performing tricks on horseback. She fulfilled this dream several times, including in Bryan, Texas, and Utah. In high school, she also competed in group trick riding at the World Trick Riding Championships in Oklahoma. Her team delivered an outstanding performance in the finals and emerged victorious.
After high school, Paige studied communications at Odessa College (Ontario) and Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.
Interest in Design
While Paige was deeply immersed in the world of trick riding and rodeo, she also harbored a passion for design. She always loved creating but never imagined she could turn it into a career. She was accustomed to working traditional hours but learned that running her own business demanded much more time and effort.
Her interest in design emerged early. Her first step into this world was sewing her own scrunchies. In high school, she decorated her rodeo shirts and even made herself a pair of Sid Steiner jeans.
Paige was drawn to bold and even slightly eccentric prints, such as glittery shirts. She admired Audi Roy, the designer behind Classic Rodeo, and saved up to buy items from his collection.
In 2012, Paige launched her first brand, Wild Rose Clothing, creating wedding dresses and custom denim jackets. She described this brand as a fun, creative space where she could freely explore her ideas. In 2014, Wild Rose Clothing participated in races at the Thomas & Mack Center alley. Paige also designed a costume for world barrel racing champion Fallon Taylor after winning a design contest.
Pursue Victory and Paige 1912
In 2014, Paige launched the Pursue Victory brand, dedicating herself to producing high-quality, functional shirts. She learned shirt-making at a couture school and aimed to create versatile shirts suitable for both office wear and horseback riding, combining her equestrian lifestyle with fashion.
The name Pursue Victory symbolizes that everyone defines victory differently. In the barrel racing world, some dream of running the Thomas & Mack Center alley, while others aspire to qualify for NBHA finals or achieve 3D success. Each milestone represents victory.
Paige’s decade-long career as a professional rider also inspired the creation of her brand Paige 1912, a subsidiary line of Pursue Victory. For this brand, Paige infused her shirt designs with elements inspired by the Wild West and high fashion from her favorite rodeo era.
The Paige 1912 shirts are best described as pieces perfect for rodeos or horseback rides along the seaside. Each style is meticulously designed, drawing inspiration from iconic cities representing both high fashion and the Wild West.
The name Paige 1912 reflects the year of the first Calgary Stampede, in which her great-grandfather participated. Each shirt style is named after significant rodeos of 1912: Pendleton, Cheyenne, Salinas, and Calgary. Other styles, such as London and Paris, honor influential fashion capitals of the time. Interestingly, 1912 also marked the opening of Coco Chanel’s first boutique in Paris. Paige sees parallels between herself and Coco, as both have revolutionized fashion for women with a focus on functionality, and both share a love for horses.
To launch Paige 1912, Paige hosted a fashion show, 1912 – The Wild West Fashion Show, in Calgary. The event featured cowboy ropes and live music by a cowboy singer-songwriter. Every detail, from the food to the models’ hairstyles and unique features, captured the brand’s essence and celebrated Calgary’s western culture.
In an interview with STYLE Canada, Paige highlighted how Calgary’s rich history inspired her line, from its ranching roots to its rodeo culture and Stampede. Having attended major rodeos across the U.S., Paige believes few cities embrace this atmosphere as strongly as Calgary.
Initially, Paige 1912’s clientele consisted of women involved in equestrian sports. Over time, the brand attracted a broader audience, including fashion enthusiasts from urban and rural areas and young riders.
C5 Brand
In October 2016, Paige launched the C5 Brand, distinct from her earlier ventures as it was created specifically for C5 Rodeo Company. This innovative brand brought a fresh perspective to the rodeo sport.
Paige incorporated some of C5 Rodeo’s most iconic elements, including horses like F31 Virgil, 80 Rockstar, and D39 Make Up Face, transforming them into artistic and fashionable visual representations.
Despite her success, Paige acknowledges the courage needed to continue creating when faced with criticism or doubt. In an interview with Western Twist Media, she advised women pursuing their dreams to stay focused on the rewards awaiting them at the finish line. Paige herself exemplifies how diverse passions can intertwine, leading to a vibrant and fulfilling journey.