Jim Leahy

In 1973 my brother, Jim Leahy, arrived in Taos, New Mexico with a bale of sheepskins, a sewing machine, and a notion that if you did something right the rest would take care of itself. He set up the first Overland store—a humble adobe shop between the rugged Sangre de Cristo range and the Rio Grand Valley, where sheepskin had been long revered for its luxurious warmth.

There, fresh out of high school, the young entrepreneur created beautiful, high quality sheepskin coats, hats, mittens, and slippers—meticulously cutting and stitching everything by hand.

Word quickly spread about the quality and craftsmanship of Overland’s products, and soon it was impossible for Jim to keep up with the growing demand. So he invited fellow Taos craftspeople and artisans to work with him.

As Overland’s reputation for excellence continued to grow, the store soon expanded into the current shop north of Taos at the foot of Taos Mountain. In 1976, our parents, Jerry and Marge, came to manage a second Overland store in the Old Market section of Omaha, and in 1977 my wife, Nancy, and I joined the company to manage operations.

Overland's First Store (Taos, NM)