Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Ross. He and his team share the story of Brackish with us below:
Brackish takes a unique view on hand-made accessories for men and women by crafting beautiful, wearable works of art from sustainably sourced feathers and other natural materials. Our story begins in 2007 when Co-Founder Ben Ross and now wife, Mary Ann were engaged and putting the finishing touches on their perfect wedding. While each detail was thought through, the top priority for their big day was to celebrate their love surrounded by the people that meant the most to them and to thank family and friends who had been a part of their journey. When it came time to plan the groomsmen’s gifts, it occurred to Ben that the traditional just wouldn’t do. These were the men who meant the most to him and he wanted to share his appreciation through something unique and personal. It was then that creativity struck, and taking inspiration from his love of the outdoors, he crafted the first-ever feather bowtie.
One of those lucky recipients, Co-Founder Jeff Plotner, could not shake the idea that this innovative and personal gift was something special, one that could become a stylish staple for many occasions to come. Taking a leap of faith, in April of 2012, Jeff reached out with an entrepreneurial prospect – to turn these bow ties into a business and market them to a wider audience. It was at this moment that Brackish was formed.
Building on the popularity of the original iconic bow tie and the continued focus on repurposing the beauty that can only be found in nature, the brand has since broadened its offerings. Brackish now offers a full line of men’s and women’s accessories designed and hand-crafted in Charleston, SC.
Not only does choosing a Brackish piece offer a unique fashion choice, but it also reminds the wearer of a joyous moment. It was this combination of qualities that lies at the heart of our brand: a one-of-a-kind style designed to celebrate life’s joyous moments with friends and family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a business is never easy, and with something as unique as Brackish, the obstacles and challenges we have faced started from day one. In the beginning, we focused on learning everything we could from both our successes and our missteps – which early on, were plentiful. What we were doing had never been done – there was no blueprint of how to start a feather accessory business and so we were truly learning as we hatched Brackish. To me, this was to be expected but one of the biggest hurdles was how to educate our customers on what exactly they were getting from our brand and why these pieces were so special. How do you tell the story of something that started as a gift from my heart becoming a company? So, we started small and local – reaching out to stores that offered one-of-a-kind items where we knew our bow ties would resonate with customers. The more we told the story the more the brand picked up momentum – like a body of water that begins as a spring and grows into a stream before becoming a river – it is a process that we have watched closely to monitor the steady flow while ensuring sustainable growth.
In more recent years, the most obvious and biggest obstacle for us was COVID 19; if there was ever something designed to shut us down, this was it. Nearly all black-tie gatherings stopped, and our bowtie line nearly screeched to a halt. Thankfully, in late 2019 our women’s line had taken flight and was becoming a soaring success that carried us through the worst phases of the pandemic. During this time, we were unable to have all our artisans in our Charleston studio and so we got creative on how to keep our employees safe while still allowing them to earn money and make products. Here is where our amazing team figured it out collaboratively and created a process that I was both impressed with and proud to be a part of. Not only did Jeff Plotner – my co-founder and friend – create a way for artisans to work from home, but he also utilized their incredible sewing and crafting skills to create masks for front-line workers and to support the community that had supported us for so long. As we have continued to return to a more normal working environment, we still face residual challenges from the pandemic. However, the passion and dedication of our employees continue – from the artists themselves to the front of the house, our team continues to innovate in this new environment.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Brackish is a feather accessories brand located in Charleston SC. At Brackish we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovative styles, pioneering feather accessories into the fashion world. We believe that our team of artists is second to none in the world at working with feathers and making them into pieces of wearable art. We hand make every single product in our studio in Charleston and currently offer pieces ranging from men’s bow ties, cummerbunds, lapel pins, studs, and cuff links to an assortment of women’s earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. While we are best known for our feather bow ties, the brand continues to expand into new categories, always pushing the envelope of what can be done with mother nature’s paintbrush.
I’m most proud of our team at Brackish and the atmosphere and environment we have fostered for being creative. I have to pinch myself daily that I get to wake up and work alongside such talented individuals and that I get to design things out of feathers! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think this South Carolina boy would be able to do something that I love so much. I put my heart in soul into all we do at Brackish and every single detail has purpose and meaning behind it. I am a firm believer that beauty is in the little details in life and, at Brackish, we don’t miss an opportunity to let the details take flight!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those starting out I can only impart words of advice from my own journey; listen to and follow your heart. In my experience, your heart usually takes you to the place you are supposed to be. Do something that means something to you and that you are passionate about and draw on those passions and let them guide you. Never apologize for being the biggest believer in what you are doing and give all of yourself to your endeavors, family, and friends. Most importantly, never hesitate to put yourself out there, and when you love someone tell them how much they mean to you and what an important part of your journey they have been.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@brackish.com
- Website: www.brackish.com
- Instagram: @Brackish
- Facebook: @BrackishBowTies
- Twitter: @brackishbowties
