Anne Hathaway - Brokeback Mountain

In 2005, we got a call from a costume designer who said Ang Lee wants Rockmount shirts for the cast of a new movie Brokeback Mountain with Anne Hathaway, Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal.

The screenplay was written by Larry McMurtry based on a short story by Annie Proulx. As a lifelong McMurtry fan who has read nearly every word wrote, she had me.

She said, "There is something you need to know about the movie..." I said, "Let me get this straight, Ang Lee wants Rockmount shirts for his next movie?" She said, "yes." I replied, "That's enough for me." They bought dozens of Rockmount shirts, hats and accessories for the cast.

Later Wendy and I were invited to a premier where we met Larry, Annie and cast. After the movie, we were invited to a private dinner. It was a powerful movie -- I found it hard to string words together.

The two keynote shirts central to the plot should have won a supporting Oscar, but unfortunately that category does not exist.

The Wall Street Journal interviewed me, asking "How bad is this for business and the Rockmount brand?" I said, "Are you kidding? Rockmount has been in 100s of movies. It is a work of art by Annie Proulx, Larry McMurtry, Ang Lee, Heath Ledger, Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal. Why would that be bad for business?"

So, after the 11th Academy Award nomination, we went public. Overwhelmingly, the public supported our role. I heard from people of all ages and walks of life. While some may not have seen the movie, they loved that we were part of it.

Finally, the two key shirts in the movie, a denim and plaid, sold at auction for $101,000 which created another burst of press. The shirts now on exhibit at the Autry Museum. We have a replica of the door scene on display in Rockmount's Museum at our flagship store in downtown Denver.