Keeping it chill in Whitefish

One downtown store, named for its vibe and that of its owners, Chill Clothing Company, stands out because of its original art work and top-notch customer service. 

Charisse and Scott Duchardt, Montana residents and self-proclaimed ski bums since 1991, have owned and operated the boutique located at 415 East Second Street for nearly 11 years.

“I think the most important aspect of our business is it centers around our original art,” Scott said. “That is what it's all about – what it's always been about.” 

Life-long artists, the Duchardts have always enjoyed making art and find that putting their designs on clothing makes their work more accessible. 

“We design stuff we like and put it on shirts we’d like to wear,” Scott said succinctly.

The designs for all of the store’s T-shirts, hoodies, hats and tank tops were created by the Duchardts and their original artworks are displayed in the store. Scott said many of the shirt designs are iterations of their fine art. They distill some of Charisse’s paintings and translate them into graphic art.

Designs include mountain scenes, trees, feathers, the cycle of the moon and an eye-catching squirrel. In addition to clothing and fine art, the store offers original jewelry and other Montana-made art.

“We like to support other local artists,” Charisse said. “A tremendous amount of what we have in our store is either made right here in Montana or is unique to the store – you won’t find anywhere else.”

Another unique part of Chill is how the Duchardts treat their customers.

“We offer tremendous customer service compared to most places,” Charisse said. “I feel like that is how we stand out.”

She said upon entering Chill Clothing Co., shoppers are greeted. They are offered a dressing room, brought sizes or styles they’d like and they are tended to.

“I feel like that’s a lost art these days, everything is self-checkout, self-this, self-that. Nobody cares for you anymore,” she said. “When you go into our store you will get service.”

Scott added that a big reason for the heightened customer care is that the couple is in the store all of the time, operating the business daily. The Duchardts, along with a few employees, do everything from design and sales, to printing and snow removal.

SCOTT AND CHARISSE worked in the ski shop on Big Mountain for many years and Charisse designed shirts for the ski patrol while she worked as a patroller. 

“The business started in 2007, when our son was born,” Charisse said. “I wanted to have a way to … be a mom but still bring in some money and be creative.”

The couple began bringing shirts to the Whitefish Farmers Market. They had two single-color designs at that time, a bear and a moose, each with a floral design.

“To my surprise they were very successful, right off the bat,” she said. 

That success led the duo to participate in art shows and farmers markets for four years until they were ready to open a storefront. Since there were no properties available in Whitefish at that time, the couple, who had often vacationed in Hawaii, moved to the Big Island to open their first store in Kona, Hawaii. 

In 2013, when the location next door to Wasabi became available, they deemed it perfect for their needs and opened Chill Clothing Company in Whitefish.

“Our plan had always been to bring it full circle because we've just always loved Montana and Hawaii,” Charisse said. 

Until 2021, when the couple officially closed the Hawaii location, the two had split their time between the two stores. 

“It was our two favorite places. They’re kinda equal but opposite,” Scott said. “Where we were living on the Big Island, it's very similar to here but it's a surf town.”

They said each location would have their area-specific designs, like waves and palm trees in Hawaii and bears and mountains for Montana, but most of the designs are based on the art that the couple likes to create.

“It’s really about the art. People like the uniqueness,” Charisse said. “It helps to keep you jazzed when you see that people are having a real reaction to your art.”

To see more of their artwork visit: @chillcharisse on Instagram.

    Chill Clothing Company has been operating at 415 East Second Street for almost 11 years. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)