By Leslie Kilgore EBS STAFF
In Big Sky, “making it” often means taking a leap, sometimes across the country and trusting that a good idea, hard work and community focus can carry you forward. For Mike Dawkins, that leap brought his family from Charleston, South Carolina, to southwest Montana, where he launched Bison and Bear Fine Clothing with the belief that even in a casual mountain town, people appreciate quality, fit and personal service when it comes to their wardrobe. Explore Big Sky recently chatted with Dawkins, who shares what drew him to Big Sky, why custom clothing makes sense here, and what it’s been like building a business and a life in a place that values authenticity, ambition, quality of life and family values.
This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.
Explore Big Sky: When did you first come to Big Sky, or southwest Montana?
Mike Dawkins: We moved to Bozeman last June. So, it’s been less than a year. I also knew that I was going to spend a lot of time in Big Sky. I figured most of my clientele is going to be in Big Sky as well as Bozeman, so I started going up to Big Sky as often as I could.
EBS: What made you choose to move to southwest Montana from Charleston, South Carolina, with your young family?
MD: It was a combination of a couple different things. My wife and I were working in Charleston and both had really good jobs, making good income, like everything looked good on paper. But at some point, I was like, are you happy because this doesn’t really feel like happiness. I don’t love the trajectory of this. And what I mean by that is, we saw our kids for like two hours a day, and they’re three and five. Having to wake the kids up while it’s still dark out, just to get them to daycare by a certain time, just so that we could get through the rest of the commute to get to our offices—it was a lot. The schedule and kind of the grind of it all became too much. And not that Charleston is a huge city, but it’s a lot bigger than Bozeman and has a much faster pace.
EBS: Did you work in the clothing industry in South Carolina?
MD: Yes, for a brand called Tom James company. They don’t advertise their market or anything, but they’re well-known in most big cities. When I decided to start my own company, I had a non-compete for that region, so I knew our safest bet was to just move to a new territory, start fresh with a new life and business.
EBS: Was it hard to just pick up and start over with young children?
MD: Yes, and we had family saying, “stay closer.” But both my wife and I love the mountains, so we knew this area would be a good fit. And I said, respectfully, if we’re moving to the mountains, we’re going to where the real mountains are.
EBS: So it was the way of life here, along with the opportunity to launch your clothing business?
MD: Yes, it was a combination of Bozeman having the mountains that we wanted, and there was enough population here that I felt like I could launch my company here and there’d be enough people that I could find clientele versus moving to a much smaller market. We felt that Bozeman was on a very, very short list of places that had a big enough population, but still felt small enough that it still has its soul and a community.
EBS: How are you growing your clientele here in Montana?
MD: So that’s interesting because the company I used to work for, they have a very aggressive approach for how to build clientele and I was never really a fan of it, but working for them, I didn’t really have a choice. And what I mean by that is it was kind of like an old-school sales approach, with regular cold calls to gain business. But if you rewind to the early 1900s, for a custom clothier, the tailor was everything.
EBS: So is that how you see your business growing, with talented and experienced tailors?
MD: Yes, but what happens with that business model is you end up with a two-year wait list because a tailor can only do so much. So the more modern version of that is basically, the analogy that I’m the golf caddy in the sense that I know everything I need to know about the game, but I’m not swinging. So I’m not doing the needle and thread work, but when I meet with somebody, I have all of my fabrics. I have the linings, I have all the details. I help them style everything. I measure them. We discuss how they want everything to fit. I’m making recommendations on the style, color and fabrics reflecting my clients’ lifestyles.
EBS: Where are most of your clothes made? Are your tailors based locally?
MD: Some of mine are in the U.S., especially if it’s important for somebody that they have their clothes made in the US. I have tailor shops in the U.S. that I use, and then I also have some overseas. Sometimes if it’s a specialty item, like for instance,
sweaters and my custom knits, I haven’t found an American option for that, so I have accounts with different tailor shops around the world that specialize in particular items.
EBS: Is it important to make good connections within the industry globally?
MD: Yes, I go to industry trade shows where I can make connections with brands and manufacturers, Especially the custom manufacturers. Some of the trade shows are where I can go to make relationships and meet people. That’s how I found the company that does my custom jeans.
EBS: Are you finding success in making custom clothes for people who are moving to Montana and want a different type of wardrobe?
MD: Yes, and it is about connections and meeting people. This is a smaller market and a market where a lot of people know each other. I’ve done a lot of networking and introducing myself to people. I’ve met clients and connections in Big Sky just by introducing myself to them, say at the farmer’s market or at Lone Mountain Ranch.
EBS: What do you see as a growing trend for you here in Southwest Montana?
MD: Other than being able to control a fit and make it something truly yours, a big part of what I do is to make clothing for certain people who are hard to fit, they love the personal service and the time they save by not having to shop for pieces on their own.
I can take fit out of the equation. My clothes will be made for you only. I come to them, either at their homes or office, so the whole process is seamless.
EBS: So, a lot of your business model relies on connections and convenience, or an ease of purchasing.
MD: Exactly. And I find many clients through word-of-mouth. I like to meet people at their home because they’re a little bit more relaxed and less distracted. They don’t have to focus on deadlines and emails.
EBS: My last question, as a new resident to Montana, what have you enjoyed most about your new life since you moved here last June?
MD: My wife and I are loving seeing our kids outdoors all the time. I come home from work and they are often playing outside and run up to greet me. Seeing them outside all the time in such a beautiful setting, It’s one of my favorite things here. We are also all going to take up skiing together, which I am looking forward to. And I love going on family drives, where the kids are looking out the back at the beautiful scenery and taking it all in. That’s worth everything.
