Lance Avery Morgan
Product and portrait photography courtesy of Montana Territory Hat Company
In the shadow of the Montana mountains, where rugged landscapes meet a touch of untamed glamour, Honorary Texan Courtney Green of Montana Territory Hat Company is crafting her own legend—one meticulously stitched hat at a time. Known as the haute couture queen of head wear, this charming Western designer has transformed the humble hat into a bold statement of individuality that has topped the heads of many actors, musicians and artists. In addition, Green’s hats have been seen in many of photographer/artist David Yarrow’s images (available at Sorrell Sky Gallery in Santa Fe). Her creations, adorned by celebrities and taste-makers alike, blend old-school grit with high-fashion sophistication, redefining what it means to wear your personality on your sleeve—or rather, your head. Heck, Green’s designs aren’t just hats; they’re stories.
Whether it’s a wide-brimmed masterpiece fit for a red-carpet debut or a bespoke felt creation that whispers of wanderlust and independence, every piece carries her signature mix of artistry and attitude. From the ranches of Aspen to the streets of Paris, her creations are turning heads while making a statement: style is personal, and Courtney Green is here to crown it, according to our Lance Avery Morgan, who caught up with her recently…in yes, all her crowning glory.
The best career advice I’ve received is…
Courtney Green: Find your tennis ball. I have always had yellow Labrador Retrievers. The advice that resonated with me most might be to find your tennis ball. That thing you can’t stop chasing because you love it so much. Find your tennis ball, and then never let anyone outwork you.
Three qualities that got me where I am today are…
Courtney Green: Hard Work. There are no shortcuts. You must do the work. That is where the magic is. Resilience. Anything worth doing or creating is hard sometimes. It is supposed to be. Do it anyway. Do everything you can to find something you love to do. If you can figure out a way to turn your passion into a purpose and a business, you won’t regret it. Integrity. Find your own voice. It is very clear when a product or a perspective is not your own. This is especially true in design and branding. Be true. No matter what.
Easiest career decision I ever made is…
Courtney Green: The easiest decision I ever made was to pursue a career in design and merchandising. When I was in college, I didn’t even know that was an option. I always felt like I didn’t fit anywhere. I loved business and I loved art. I wanted both. For some reason, I thought you had to choose. The options were in finance, or law, or medicine, and if you were creative, to be an artist. I didn’t realize that there was such a job that combined business and art the way that merchandising and design did. Immediately out of college I interviewed one time, got the job, and fell in love. I never left that industry. That was the easiest decision. But the best decision I made, was to go out on my own. Building Montana Territory has been nothing short of extraordinary, excruciating, and exhilarating. I am grateful for every step along the way.
Due to my creating Montana Territory Hat Company, I have found that…
Courtney Green: There will never be enough hours in the day.
With hats, I feel a person can…
Courtney Green: Embody confidence. I cannot tell you how many times someone tells me they are not a hat person. I put the right hat on them, and they are transformed. I love that. Everyone deep down wants to be the kind of person the American cowboy and cowgirl has always represented.
Hats, to me, have always represented…
Courtney Green: The romance and ruggedness of the West. There is a quiet pride. A worth ethic. A sense of purpose. A gentleness mixed with courage, tenacity, and resilience. The American West has always symbolized freedom, hope, and opportunity to me. The cowboy hat is the embodiment of this life.
What is influencing me creatively right now is…
Courtney Green: I am currently working on a small capsule collection for the Sorrel Sky Gallery in Durango. It is during the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, so I have been immersed in the history of Durango and reading classic cowboy poetry as I build a story through cowboy hats. It is extraordinary. Reading some of these words and listening to the songs has felt like home. I have loved working on this project and am so looking forward to being in Durango for the event. I love art galleries and old Western towns. I am quite honestly living my dream.
How I made my first dollar…
Courtney Green: I painted murals on the window at my local grocery store. I think I have always been trying to find a way to make money through art.
The first music I bought was…
Courtney Green: I have always been a 90’s country girl.
Last thing I binge/marathon watched…
Courtney Green: Succession.
Book that left a lasting impression on me…
Courtney Green: Anything by Cormac McCarthy.
On that note, my favorite fictional character is…
Courtney Green: Robert Redford as Tom Booker in The Horse Whisperer.
My real-life hero has got to be…
Courtney Green: My dad. He is the most brilliant person I have ever met and the hardest worker I have ever known. He has been an extraordinary influence in my life.
If I lived in a foreign city it would be…
Courtney Green: Montana will always be my home. But I would have a second home somewhere in Italy. Not a city. A beautifully charming small town with artisans, restaurants, olive trees, lavender, and vineyards. And Paris on occasion. I love cities, but always in small culture-rich doses.
What everyone should try in their lifetime is…
Courtney Green: Regularly going places with no cell service.
If I could compete in an Olympic sport, or create one, it would be…
Courtney Green: Track and Field. I would love to win an Olympic Gold in the mile. It is such a beautifully brutal race.
If I weren’t doing what I do I would (be a…)…
Courtney Green: A Chef. I am always in awe of an extraordinary and memorable meal. It is such an art. So many beautiful memories are made over an exquisite meal.
A celebrity I would prank phone call and what I would ask them is…
Courtney Green: I am not sure. I am not much of a celebrity person. I might call George Strait and say, “I think you’ve got my chair.”
My hidden talent that most people might not guess is…
Courtney Green: None. If I have a talent, you’d know about it.
If I had a superpower, I’d want it to be…
Courtney Green: Be able to choose my dreams. I have always loved that idea. We spend 30 percent of our lives sleeping. If we are lucky, that is somewhere around 30 years. I always loved the idea of being able to spend that time on purpose. You could be anything. Travel anywhere. Learn anything. A totally different life without giving up anything about the life you already love. How extraordinary would that be? I also love the idea of time travel.
A simple way to get people to laugh is easy. Just…
Courtney Green: Laugh.
A phrase I might overuse would be…
Courtney Green: I think the only one that is appropriate for print might be a quote from the musical Newsies. “I say, that what you say, is what I say” It always makes my kids laugh. Being a kid is not easy these days. But if I can make them smile, and they know I always have their back, I think we will all be ok. I also find myself saying “my goodness” a lot.
My motto? Easy. It is…
Courtney Green: The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
Favorite scent these days is (because)…
Courtney Green: Currently in between scents. I am in search of something new. Send me suggestions.
My style icon is…
Courtney Green: Ralph Lauren.
My personal style signifier is…
Courtney Green: Perfectly worn in denim. Vintage turquoise. And, of course, a Montana Territory Cowboy Hat.
The classic designer I wish was still designing today would be…
Courtney Green: Coco Chanel.
The last meal that truly impressed me was…
Courtney Green: The Polo Bar in Manhattan.
In my fridge, you will always find…
Courtney Green: A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
My perfect day would end…
Courtney Green: Riding my horse at sunset in Montana.
On my tombstone, it might say…
Courtney Green: “Funny how time slips away.” – Willie Nelson.
