The Missoula Makers Collective was founded in late 2021 with the purpose of creating community spaces for makers. Markets became that first community space, and since our first market, we’ve have hosted nearly a hundred handmade markets, pop ups, and shopping events. In 2022 we opened their storefront- a collaborative space and shared lease with Pearl Boba Tea on Pine St. in downtown Missoula. Operating out of 300 square feet, we sold products by more than 70 makers local to Missoula and the surrounding areas and became a destination for holiday shopping, gift shopping, and quality handmade goods. In January 2024, Making Missoula 501 c3 was established and took on the mission based programming that the MMC had been providing, including monthly business development classes and community events. They accomplish this through community giving and regular donations from MMC. In the first six months, the nonprofit raised over $1,000 in community gifts. In the fall of 2024, the Missoula Makers Collective moved their storefront to 112 W Front St- their first solo location of more than 700 sq. ft. in the historic Florence Building.
Meet the Founders:
Bailey Durnell & Rachel Cowan
Bailey and Rachel were both makers, prior to starting the Missoula Makers Collective. Rachel is the owner of Blue Hour Metalworks, a precious metal jewelry business. Prior to being a metalsmith, Rachel worked in healthcare with a background in Neuroscience and Psychology. Bailey is the owner of Warm House Designs, also a metal jewelry business. She has a Graduate degree in political science and a background in gender studies.
The two founders met during transitional periods in their lives. They were bartending together, and were both running their jewelry businesses and in graduate school. Their friendship began with a foundation of sharing their experiences as business owners, realizing that they shared a certain feeling of isolation, and relishing in the opportunity to workshop their obstacles together.
They soon realized that they wanted to connect makers to one another, and create a community on the basis of sharing knowledge that would empower and encourage makers. The Missoula Makers Collective serves to do just that, while also increasing visibility and accessibility of handmade products, encouraging handmade shopping, and providing learning opportunities to women entrepreneurs.
