Every generation has a frontier. For Christian Gaona, that frontier was Chicago. Embodying the settler spirit that defined the American West, he packed his bags in Colorado and headed east, moving to a city where he had no family, no friends, and no prospects. He was driven solely by a conviction that his future was rooted in the "City of Big Shoulders."

Upon arrival, he set out to prove his mettle. Christian applied to the University of Chicago only after committing himself to the city, and was admitted to the Harris School of Public Policy. It was there he discovered a unifying truth: it is our work that connects us, empowers us, makes us. This isn't just a philosophy for Christian; it's his daily reality. As a blue-collar professional working at the intersection of construction and technology, he lives the very grit and modern innovation he seeks to honor. This belief resonated deeply with his own family history, tracing his grandfather’s footsteps from Texas to Chicago’s Southside, and his entrepreneurial drive led him to found his first company while still in school, building his own legacy in the city that rewarded his bold gamble.

Inspired, Christian dove into the city's past, exploring how it earned the name "City of Big Shoulders." His research led him to the often-overlooked history of the Union Stockyards and the pivotal labor events like the Pullman Strike, revealing a profound truth: the story of the American West is deeply rooted in the Midwest. He created the Chicago Stockyards Trading Company

Christian founded the Chicago Stockyards Trading Company to honor this shared spirit of determination and to share this powerful narrative: The West in Midwest. The brand is his tribute to the forgotten history of the Union Stockyards and the pivotal role the Midwest played in Western expansion. Through apparel, he tells the story of a city built by pioneers and invites a new generation to discover the frontier that still exists in Chicago, whether it’s in agriculture, construction, quantum computing or whatever you’re after.

“Husky, Brawling, and Always Building” - Chicago (1914) by Carl Sandburg