“There’s 64 steps in making a customized hat,” Randy Hughes explains. He removes his own cappuccino-foam colored cowboy hat to explain the processes, from pelt preparation and stitching to brim and body shaping.
Hughes’ ability to notice the minutest details was instilled long ago as he trained to become a marine biologist. Starting in December, he will get to ply that skill daily in Boot and Brim, downtown Durango’s new luxury boutique offering heirloom-quality cowboy hats and boots. Co-founded with his wife, Amy, the store expresses their shared exuberance for the Western spirit.
“We’re passionate about the Western heritage,” Hughes says. “Being out here, you just really appreciate the culture, the nature, the hard work.” He notes that while he and his wife raised their seven children in northern Arizona’s horse country, the family frequently vacationed in Durango. They are thrilled to now live in a town steeped in frontier history—yet curiously lacking an outlet for high-end Western wear.
Boot and Brim solves that conundrum. It is a space devoted to craftsmanship, authenticity, and the enduring identity of the American West. Inside, the shelves will be adorned with boots from Lucchese and Hyer—makers with roots stretching back to the 1800s—and White’s Boots, the century-old brand known among smokejumpers and outfitters.
“These Hyer boots I’m wearing,” Hughes says, displaying the ornately stitched olive-green pair, “they’re working boots. Even though they look sharp, they’re definitely cowboy boots—super comfortable whether you’re riding or just walking around.”
For the Hugheses, that versatility combined with durability is the very definition luxury. When the little extras are meaningful, they add up to sensible investments.
The hats will comprise custom pieces crafted from European hare and beaver pelts, shaped by hand and built to last decades. “They wear really well in snow or rain and keep their shape,” Hughes says, adding that Boot and Brim is equipped to reshape hats on site.
Beyond retail, Boot and Brim aims to weave local artistry into its seams. Durango craftspeople are building its furnishings, and the shop will host pop-ups featuring jewelry, leatherwork, and silver accessories. Each month, a charity—like Adaptive Sports Association or the Sierra Club—will enjoy the spotlight at in-store events.
At its heart, Hughes says, the store’s philosophy is simple: “In the West, a hat and boots are not just what you wear—it’s who you are.” Whether you’re a local rancher or a visitor looking to carry a bit of the West home, Boot and Brim promises a piece of that enduring craftsmanship—something built to last and made with pride.