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They’ll come in and say, 'I want to look like Kevin Costner.'



BILLINGS -
Rand’s Custom Hats have been in business since 1973, but lately, they have seen an uptick in business because of the hit television series "Yellowstone."

Store owner Brad Tilden knows how much trends can affect his business.

Fortunately, right now, cowboy hats are in high demand because of the fictional TV show set in Montana.

“They’ll come in and say, 'I want to look like Kevin Costner,' or whatever it is, and we’ll build them a hat that looks like that,” Tilden said.
Rand’s Custom Hats owner Brad Tilden

Rand’s Hats isn’t just selling the usual hats. They make unique, custom hats that fit perfectly with customers’ heads right inside their building.

Hat makers start by measuring the shape and size of the customer’s head.

Once the shape of the hat has been established, they will sand the hat down or even light it on fire to get rid of any extra threads.

Eventually, the hat gets handed over to stitching where the perfectly fitted sweatband is sewn into the inside of the hat.

Once more, the hat is steamed so that the hat maker can add any curves and definition to the crown and brim.

“When we build your hat, we use those devices to get it so that it’s tailored to your head,” Tilden said.

It’s a complicated process and customization is expensive.

Rand’s Hats can cost anywhere from $600 to $2,500, and most who walk through these doors are willing to pay for something unique.

Thad Lamey — who has worked as a hat maker for about five years has noticed the massive difference in the popularity of the business, and he credits a lot of that to the hit TV show.

“In the last year or so, with the Yellowstone influence, as we call it, it’s been huge. The number of orders and just the involvement and interest has been phenomenal,” Lamey said.

Lamey insists that the wait and price are worth it.

Rand’s Hats is a unique business that is special to Montana.

“It’s something that you don’t find anywhere. Getting a custom hat is not cheap, but it’s well worth it because the hat you’re going to get, if you take care of it it’ll last you forever,” Lamey said.

For Lamey, there is no greater feeling than handing the finished product to a happy customer.

“And he puts the hat on and the hat fits perfectly and it’s exactly the way he loves it and you can just see it in his eyes. There’s that sparkle in their eyes and smile on their face and that’s really rewarding,” Lamey said.

No, but California tourists are pretty fuggin stupid.

No real cowboy buys a hat because some idiot is wearing it on TV.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


THIS

You know how I can tell who is a tourist in town? They're the only people wearing cowboy hats and cowboy boots.

And the boots have nary a scuff..

I seriously doubt that store or the Double H hat store in Darby build ‘Costner’ hats for many local ranchers or cowhands. It is the tourists and recent transplants that generally want that kind of thing.

Those custom hat stores build super nice 100x hats for ranchers and such for formal occasions, but the TV star modeled hats are just a gimmick for the most part, IMO.

A dumb one too.

Will they sell to people who can't provide bona fides to authenticate their right to wear them?

Clean hats with no dirt or sweatstains.

CHIT NO! who would they sell their hats too, if not Californians who wanna be Kevin Costner in Yellowstone! HAHA

New hat is how you spot a transplant or touron
No difference between the two.

None of the ones I know.

Most cowboys do have dress hats for going out though.

I laugh when I watch old westerns and all of the "Cowboys" are clean.
Ranch work is hard and you get filthy.
I'd spend a day wrangling horses or doing tractor work and I could see the dirt and horseshit coming off in the shower.
That Hollywood stuff is laughable.

One day after work my wife said to me...do you realize what you look like...🤣

i bought my first Rand's 25yrs ago, wear it all the time,

everytime i go to billings , i think, i should go get my hat cleaned and reshaped, never do, it was 300.00 25 yrs ago i think,,,

A lady went to a bar in Montana looking for cowboys, she had always wanted to meet a real one.

Not a one in sight.

She ask the bartender, "Where are the cowboys, I always wanted to meet one?"

He looked at her, "Ma'am most of those guys sitting over there are cowboys."


She said "No, i mean real cowboys, hats, boots, spurs! Not those guys in
ballcaps."

"Oh, you wanna see hats and boots? Thats the truckstop.
These guys quit hats years ago. Got tired of being called truck drivers!"

I have a new hat...

It's been my "dress hat" for quite awhile now.

Fact is, I just hate wearing a clean hat. My old ratty sweat stained one is broken in, and I don't have to worry if something gets on it, cause I know it will get nasty(er).

Son of a bitch! That's my f...king hat there, far right middle, the gray fedora. I ain't been in but one movie but people are copyin' me already. I'm from California, nobody copies people from California if they can help it.

Remember the run on Akubra hats and dusters after “Man From Snowy River” came out?

Same/same.

Just one of many reasons that the newest True Grit with Jeff abridged is better than the John Wayne version.




There. That should get this thing going!