MERIDIAN (KIVI) — “When I make a custom hat, it’s custom in every way so it fits exactly to one person,” said AJ Townley, co-owner of Whiskey Ranch Hats in Meridian.
Townley and his fiancée, Ashley, create unique western hats by shaping, branding and decorating them. Ashley burns designs into the flat brim hats while AJ steams them to shape.
“Since I’ve been in this business, I’ve realized that millinery is a dying industry. A good hat can be passed down. It’s an heirloom. Someone will bring in their grandfather’s hat and we’ll re-knit it, re-fashion it and make it to fit them,” Townley said as he made a custom hat.
“About a year later, we took the plunge and opened our first storefront. It was in Nampa. It was a tiny 13-by-13 room. All we had were flat brim hats,” Townley said.
Over the past few years, the pair has built a local business by selling at summer rodeos and local events, as well as hosting “make your own hat” events.
“We have everything from fabric scraps, playing cards, chains, twine, feathers, charms, so if you’d like to decorate your hat, come in and choose from what we have in store or bring your own hat and we’ll do that too,” Townley said.
Whether made from felt or straw, the couple hope their high-quality hats will provide their customers with more than just shade from the sun.
“I used to work in construction and had a similar philosophy: If you’re going to build something, build something that will be there for as long as humanly possible.”
Whiskey Ranch Hats’ in-store inventory is subject to change based on area rodeos and events, so check their Facebook page for the latest updates.
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