Montana small business dazzles with handmade leather and mohair creations

Columbus, Montana – This little company, which draws inspiration from Montana, is becoming rather popular around the state.

Handmade, lovingly crafted leather and mohair goods are available from Cowlick Creations in Columbus.

Seven years ago, Meghan Richardson’s love for leather design was inspired by her eldest daughter.

“My oldest daughter got into youth rodeo and so she really wanted the blingy, fancy colorful tack sets and she had a saddle that we put glitter on,” said Richardson at her in-home studio in Columbus.

Richardson lost the two jobs she was working at the time, and that’s when Cowlick Creations came to be.

“Then somebody said to me, ‘Why don’t you turn this into your business? What’s the worst that’s going to happen?’ and I was like, ‘oh, that’s a scary question, what is the worst that’s going to happen’,” Richardson said.

In 2021, Richardson launched Cowlick Creation with the support of her family.

“I used my COVID time off to take classes with some of the best leather workers around, I really learned a lot,” said Richardson.

She creates everything that comes to Richardson’s mind, including wallets, purses, and complete tack sets, using exclusively American mohair and leather from local sources.

“I didn’t want to be hemmed into any one thing in particular. I tried making soap once, I mean who knows, it just gives me this broad spectrum of anything I think of that I want to try, I can just go for it,” Richardson said.

Richardson has made the most of her residence in the Big Sky state by drawing inspiration from Montana for her artistic endeavors.

“We live in Montana, and it’s gorgeous. So, I kind of create things that feature my favorite things, which are the mountains, the wildlife, horses. I love horses,” said Richardson.

An elk-tooled roper wallet requires approximately five hours to make, and for $95, Richardson wants her items to be within reach of a wide audience.

“I came from a modest family, but I like fancy things. So, I want people to be able to have those gorgeous tack sets that their kids want to do rodeo in. I want people to be able to afford beautiful, handmade things,” Richardson said.

Richardson wouldn’t be able to do this work of love in any other way.

“Every piece I do, my tooling gets a little bit better. Or my painting, I get the color just a little closer to that perfect elk color. I really enjoy all of it. And when they’re done, I’m really happy,” said Richardson.