For the lovers, the loners, and the ones in between.

Tender Outlaws was born from the dust and glitter of the queer West — a place where rebellion meets romance and bolo ties become acts of self-expression.

Every piece is handmade, one-of-a-kind, and rooted in storytelling. We use vintage buttons, stones, and cabochons to create wearable art that celebrates individuality, tenderness, and defiance.

Our mission is simple: to make the West as queer, wild, and beautiful as it’s always been.

 

 

Meet Mads (she/her)

Founder & Creator

Mads is the creative heartbeat of Tender Outlaws — the hands, eyes, and imagination behind every bolo tie. She’s the one choosing stones, shaping stories, and turning desert daydreams into wearable art.

With a background in animal welfare and a lifelong love for the strange and beautiful, Mads approaches her work with deep care and curiosity. Each bolo she designs is a reflection of her belief that self-expression can be both tender and tough — a rebellion stitched in nylon and silver tips.

When she’s not creating, you’ll find Mads with her whippet, Hiisi, soaking up the quiet hum of desert life and dreaming up new ways to keep the West queer.

 

Meet Cody (he/him)

Co-Founder & Partner in Crime

Cody is the steady hand and soulful support behind Tender Outlaws. What began as Mads’ creative project quickly became a shared dream — one Cody champions with equal parts pride and love.

When he’s not playing guitar, caring for his daughter and dog, or getting his cardio in, Cody helps keep the heart of the brand beating: supporting production, shipping, and all the behind-the-scenes magic that lets creativity thrive.

He believes in the beauty of the bolo tie — in its simplicity, its strength, and the way it brings people together. Cody’s role is about holding space for that beauty to grow, making sure Tender Outlaws always feels like home for anyone bold enough to wear it.

 

 

What We Stand For

 

At Tender Outlaws, we believe the West was always queer — it just needed to be seen that way.

We stand for self-expression without apology, for softness that defies expectations, and for craftsmanship that honors both history and reinvention.

Our pieces are made for anyone rewriting the rules of what Western means — artists, dreamers, outcasts, cowboys, cowgirls, and cowpokes.

We believe in making things that last, in celebrating imperfections, and in giving people permission to show up exactly as they are — wild, gentle, and gloriously in-between.

Because being an outlaw isn’t about breaking the law — it’s about breaking the mold.