A Conversation with Custom Cowboy Hat Maker Courtney Green

Custom hat maker Courtney Green has always been inspired by the American West. “When I was little,” she says, “you could always find me hiding away with my sketch book, my fingers often gray from shading with charcoal pencils, or in the barn spending time with my horses.” 

After college Green worked in the fashion industry as a designer and buyer. “It was there,” she says, “that I fell in love with product, design, and the incredible storytelling power of iconic photography. But I always knew I belonged in the mountains.” Recently, we sat down with Green to talk about her lifelong journey becoming an artist/artisan and the influences that have shaped her.

What lies at the heart of your inspiration? 

When I finally made the move to Montana, I wanted to create something that pulled from my background and my love for art and the American West. I wanted to commit  to something that was rooted in, and inspired by, Montana.

I am endlessly inspired by this landscape and the people and personalities that have shaped the culture of the American West. I have always been drawn to natural beauty, in both people and place, and I have always loved the American Cowboy.There is a romance and ruggedness in the West and its inhabitants. A quiet pride, work ethic, and sense of purpose. A gentleness mixed with courage, tenacity, and resilience. Those qualities are a huge inspiration in my work. 

How does that translate into the way you work? 

I have always been drawn to workwear—style that stands for something real and pieces designed for life and purpose. I always tell people that these are not just hats. You can buy a hat anywhere. These are a piece of a place. My hats are not not about trends. They represent things that last. I have always loved style that represents simplicity and functional authenticity mixed with the sophistication of beautiful design. 

What is the advantage of investing in a custom hat?

I believe in buying once and buying forever. I love the concept of future vintage, and things that last. I make every hat entirely by hand, one step at a time in Bozeman, Montana. Every hat has a story and a one-of-a-kind custom hat is as unique as the individual who wears it. My hats have become recognizable because there is a level of authenticity and restraint in the design. And everyone knows the best designs are always infused with simplicity and  confidence.

Why would one of your custom hats be a particularly good fit for a  mountain home owner?

Whether you wear a cowboy hat every day, once a year to a rodeo, or create a wall of cowboy hats for family and friends to infuse with memories of their own, the cowboy hat is an American icon. Your hat will tell your story. The felt, the crease, the brim, and the band are the beginning.

Courtney Green is the owner of the Montana Territory Hat Company. Green creates  custom cowboy hats, legacy western goods, and  photography depicting life in the American West out of her studio in Bozeman, Montana.

Content provided by the Montana Territory Hat Company