Crow and Northern Cheyenne designer Bethany Yellowtail launches new Carhartt collaboration

Originally from Wyola, Yellowtail built her career in the fashion industry in Los Angeles before returning home and growing B.Yellowtail into a nationally recognized company. Founded in 2015, the brand was created to provide an authentic Indigenous voice in an industry where Native-inspired designs have often been produced without tribal involvement.

"Native people have always been creators, makers, artists, and entrepreneurs," said Yellowtail. "For too long, Native-inspired products have often sold without Native people being part of the process. B.Yellowtail was built to help change that by creating authentic Native-designed products and sharing those stories with audiences across the country."

The latest Carhartt collaboration continues that mission. Inspired by Yellowtail's upbringing, heritage and connection to the landscapes and communities of Montana, the collection brings Indigenous perspectives to a national stage to capture a wider audience. Products from the spring launch are available nationwide online and can also be found locally through retailers including Scheels and Shipton's in Billings.

The partnership's impact extends beyond fashion. As part of the collaboration, Carhartt is contributing $50,000 to the Wyola Development Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the well-being of residents in the Wyola Mighty Few District.

"Growing up in Wyola shaped who I am both personally and professionally," said Yellowtail. "The opportunity to share Indigenous design with a national audience while also supporting the community that helped raise me makes this collaboration especially meaningful.”

Montana's Native communities have long contributed to the state's identity through art, craftsmanship, storytelling and entrepreneurship. The continued success of B.Yellowtail demonstrates how those traditions can create new opportunities when paired with innovation, business growth and access to larger markets.

"When people think about economic development, they often imagine major employers, large construction projects and transformative investments. Those projects are important, but some of the most impactful growth starts with small business entrepreneurs who have a vision and the determination to build something meaningful,” said Big Sky Economic Development Executive Director Kimberly Bailey. “Bethany's success is a powerful example of what's possible. She built a nationally recognized brand from Montana, partnered with one of the most iconic companies in America, and is helping bring investment back to the community where her story began."

For BSED, stories like B.Yellowtail's are a reminder that entrepreneurship remains among the most powerful drivers of economic vitality in communities. When local entrepreneurs build successful companies, they create opportunities, attract investment, build awareness and showcase Montana small businesses on a national stage.

To learn more about B.Yellowtail, visit byellowtail.com.

To view the Carhartt & Bethany Yellowtail Spring Collection, visit carhartt.com/carharttxbethanyyellowtail