Whether you are gift shopping for yourself or a loved one, finding an accessory that is local, sustainable, and unique is always a challenge. Enter: Alyssa Carter, a PNW-based milliner who specializes in creating and teaching others to make one-of-a-kind hats.
Carter began her business, Copper Knot Co., in February 2023 after looking for a creative outlet that would not only be helpful to her but would also benefit the community. She ended up settling on creating hats, an accessory that her family consistently wore out of necessity in rural Montana.
“Growing up, my family wore a hat out of practical measures. When I was embarking on something, I wanted it to be practical. My mantra for my business is: ‘poised and practical.’ I want it to be classy, but also something people could wear for practical use,” says Carter.
Photograph by Devan Ballard
The result? Custom hats that can be personalized to the individual commissioning them, using decorations such as feathers, charms, fabrics, and scorching. The design process of a commissioned hat can vary—customers can come to Carter with a specific vision or give her a guideline as loose as what color the hat should be.
If the idea of a custom hat sounds great, but you don’t want to let Carter have all the fun making it, you’re in luck! Carter’s business is two-pronged—she was also set on adding an element of community, which comes in the form of hosting interactive workshops. Here, attendees bring their pre-ordered hats and are guided by Carter through the process of adding various design elements and scorching them, making the hats their own unique creation. And another positive of attending? You may be introduced to your next favorite local business.
“The great thing about [the workshops] is that they’re all at different small businesses around Whatcom County. Not only do they support my small business, but we’re also bringing people into other local, small businesses as well,” says Carter.
But the hats and workshops weren’t Carter’s only focus—she sought to create a business that would emphasize and practice sustainability. Carter sources a large amount of her materials, such as trinkets, fabric, and ribbon, from Ragfinery, a Bellingham-based organization dedicated to eliminating textile waste through reuse and upcycling. Other materials, such as the beautiful feathers often found on Carter’s creations, are sent to her by her father, who is an avid hunter and trapper still living in Montana.
Photograph by Devan Ballard
“It goes back to being sustainable, we’re really using every part of the animal that he’s harvesting. And it’s really fun too because [the feathers] are very unique…to my workshop,” says Carter.
In the whirlwind of the holiday season, it’s easy to overlook how a gift is made, who it supports, and the impact your purchase may have on the wider community. If you’re looking to keep it local this winter, or even to connect with friends or family over a hat-making workshop, visit Copper Knot Co.’s website to see first-hand the unique creations and experiences Carter offers. copperknotco.com
