Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 23 "I believe in creating a product that feels like art. CLASSIC DESIGNS, QUALITY CONSTRUCTION, THOUGHTFUL DETAILS, AND EACH BUILT WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE AND PURPOSE. SOMETHING INSPIRED BY THE PAST, TO BE LIVED IN AND LOVED TODAY, THEN PASSED ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS." J UST OUTSIDE OF BOZEMAN, MON- TANA, FROM A SMALL STUDIO LOOKING OUT OVER THE BRIDGER MOUNTAINS, THE MONTANA TERRI- TORY HAT COMPANY MAKES SOME OF THE MOST COVETED CUSTOM HATS IN THE WEST. Their hats sit atop the heads of cowboys, cowgirls, ranchers, artists, musi- cians, and makers. Courtney Green makes each hat by hand, one step at a time. Her hats are the antith- esis of the recent trend toward fast fashion and planned obsolescence. These hats are made to last a lifetime. If you're doing it right, they will accumulate the stories to show for it too. Montana's rich history and the beauty of the wild landscape inspire designs that represent a sense of place in time. You can buy a hat anywhere, but not like these. These are not just hats. These hats represent a piece of a place. It's a place that is at once wild, rugged and raw, yet utterly peaceful; rich in unrivaled beauty, history, art, and culture. "My surroundings and this place that I get to call home constantly humble me," Courtney says. "The American West has always held my heart." Courtney grew up riding horses and drawing. The tips of her fingers were often grey from shading pencil sketches whenever she could sneak away with her sketch- book. Her interests led her to pursuits in design and photography and eventually to forming The Montana Territory Hat Company. "I believe in creating a product that feels like art. Classic designs, quality construction, thoughtful details, and each built with a sense of pride and purpose. Something Inspired by the past, to be lived in and loved today, then passed on to future generations." These hats represent the preservation of a place, a culture, and a way of life. When she's not making hats, you can find Courtney escaping with her two little kids to the family ranch to ride horses and help work cattle under the expanse of the Bridger Mountain Range and the big Montana sky. You can find The Montana Territory Hat Company on instagram @montanaterritoryhatco or online at www.montanaterritoryhatco.com A Legacy of Excellence: THE MONTANA TERRITORY HAT COMPANY

• Cover