Christel Highland

Based in the heart of Kansas City’s art community, the Crossroads, Pistol Threads reflects Christel Highland’s life and artistic journey as well as construction methods rooted in the Renaissance. Christel was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, the infamous cowtown, and home of Jesse James. Her Dad, a country veterinarian, pawned his shotgun to settle the score with the hospital. Her nickname, “Christel the Pistol,” (pistol had a better ring than shotgun) stuck. Mom, a farm girl with a Masters in Home Economics, taught “the Pistol” to sew at a young age.After studying theatre, dance, and creative writing in college, Christel carved out a career in the performing arts. She worked steadily in theatre and film as a costuming professional for over a decade, continuing to design for projects that feed her passion. As a costumer and wigmaster, she created for the world premiere of Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story performed at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee as well as the film About Schmidt starring Jack Nicholson. Pistol Threads was born in Nashville after she made a special shirt for her friend, singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale. In 2008, after meeting Billy Bob Thornton when he performed with his band, The Boxmasters, she realized that her shirt designs could simultaneously have a home on musicians, ranchers, farmers, as well as the most beautiful women and men in the world with the elegance of design authenticity and the posterity inherent in the craft of construction. Pistol Threads weaves the fabric of past and the present, the spirit of the Great Tallgrass Prairie with the attention to detail of European couture. Embrace one of her garments “cut on the bias” from the finest fabrics, sewn with world-class skill, dyed (and sometimes painted) with passion and courage. It’s not just about how you look, it’s about how the garment fits and feels, and makes you feel something new…sexy, sensual, strong, timeless and undeniably Pistol Threads. In addition to designing and creating clothing in her Crossroads studio, Christel curates the 6,000 square foot JavaPort gallery in the heart of the nationally acclaimed Crossroads Art District in Kansas City, writes prose and poetry, makes sculptural fine art, and raises her two little Pistols; Otto and Clive.