Made in Charleston. Yep, that sure has a nice ring to it. From clothing to accessories to snacks and other fun finds, we’ve rounded up some of the best homegrown goodies the 843 has to offer.
Food + drink
Charleston Tea Garden
Sip tea from the oldest tea garden in North America. If you venture out to Wadmalaw Island, you can see things for yourself. Pro tip: There is no charge for the garden’s factory tour.
Carolina gold rice
Rice is rice… unless you’re from Charleston. Then, you’re raised knowing that the best rice is Carolina gold, an heirloom variety known for its nutty, mellow flavor. It’s also the first kind of rice commercially produced in the US. Fun fact: It originated in Africa.
Charleston’s own peach butter
Most cities have some kind of condiment that feels unmistakably local. In Charleston, that would be peach butter, which is a smooth and sweet spread. It’s perfect for topping everything from biscuits to ice cream.
Benne wafers
Most Colonial-era recipes are best left in the history books, but Benne wafers are a definite exception. These crispy sesame seed-laden snacks are bursting with caramel and nutty flavor.
Clothing + accessories
Brackish
This quintessential Lowcountry brand that captures fashion, beauty, nature, and hometown pride. Booming in popularity here at home, across the country, the brand has even been donned by celebrities on the Red Carpets, in photo shoots, and on national TV. Tap here to meet the makers.
Southern Ruetz
Stop by this hat bar, which allows customers to design their own hats by choosing from sustainable materials and adding special details, like vintage pins. Relying on thrifted fabrics helps ensure every creation is one-of-a-kind, and the final product is handmade, too.
Ben Silver
The fine overcoat maker shifted to blazers in the 1960s. Over the next 60 years, the Silver name would become synonymous with Charleston quality men’s clothing featuring luxurious Italian and British fabrics and exquisite detailing. The Charleston store also has shoes, socks, cuff links, and other essentials vital to building a stylish wardrobe.
Madison Mathews
This Charleston brand has a physical outpost located right on King Street. Collections take their cues from retro 1970s and 1980s NYC fashion trends, and the breezy dresses and brightly colored button-down shirts are perfect for hot summers.
Jewelry
HART
Build-your-own charm bracelets and necklaces featuring “soul-boosting talismans” offer untold opportunities for customization, and there’s an adorable Mama & Mini collection sure to become heirloom items. The entire concept is the brainchild of seventh-generation Charlestonian Hart Hagerty, and soulful adornments have become something of a Lowcountry legend.
Hermosa
The jewelry from designer Haley Holzworth’s brand is certainly stunning. The aesthetic is Southern boho with an individualist twist. In addition to Haley’s signature pieces, featuring details like fossilized shark teeth and freshwater pearls in a nod to the nearby coastline, Hermosa offers permanent jewelry and a charm bar.
Peyton William
This spot will make you feel like you’re on vacation with nautical charms, gently waving gold, and ocean-blue stones. The brand has stores on King Street in Charleston and on breathtaking Kiawah Island, plus a well-stocked online shop.
Transportation + tech
Sea Fox Boats
Started back in 1957, this boat manufacturer got its start on James Island. The center console boats are perfect for cruising, fishing, and family fun on the Lowcountry waterways.
Bands
Shovels & Rope
The husband + wife team of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearts combine pieces of folk, country, and rock and roll to create their own Americana-soaked genre of music. While the songs are catchy and some have timeless themes about love and loss, other lyrics chronicle historical events, like the sinking of the USS Thresher and the 1863 Battle of Missionary Ridge.
Ranky Tanky
Charleston culture is alive and well, thanks in large part to bands like Ranky Tanky. This ensemble brings Gullah music, a style strongly rooted in African spirituals, ragtime, R&B, and jazz, into the 21st century. Going strong since the 1990s, Ranky Tanky is still racking up accolades, including a 2023 Grammy for their album “Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.”
Doom Flamingo
Doom Flamingo may be a Charleston creation, but the band says their sound is more “Miami Beach poolside lounge vibes” than South Carolina bluesy shore tunes. Their songs feel almost cinematic, with sweeping synthesizers paired with powerhouse vocals, creating something truly unique.
Drinks
Firefly Distillery
Home of the very first sweet tea-flavored vodka. This Charleston hotspot’s portfolio also includes other tasty vodkas, a maritime-influenced bourbon, and a whopping 10+ flavors of moonshine. You can buy Firefly products retail or visit the distillery itself, where you can listen to live music and nosh on snacks while you sip.
Charleston Coffee Roasters
Charleston Coffee Roasters (CCR) sources their beans from all over the world, including an intriguing micro-lot series culled from mini plantings in Ethiopia and Rwanda. Those beans are roasted to perfection back in Charleston. From crop to cup, CCR is all about sustainability and biodiversity, choosing to partner with growers who care about the environment and treat their workers well.
Tipsy Spritzers
This female-founded brand is churning out award-winning canned spritzers and wine cocktails. No preservatives, and no sickly-sweet glut of sugar — just sparkling mineral water, organic wine and juices, and a delicious experience. Helen Hall and Katie Shields first launched their brand in fall 2021 and now offer refreshing spritzers with flavors like blackberry, grapefruit, and the ever-popular limonata.
Fun Finds
Old Whaling Company
Inspired by the cost, this family-owned home and body brand is based in the Holy City. Founded in 2012, the brand handcrafts bath products + candles.
Allegiance Flag
Charleston American flag-making business started with three college friends, and recently announced a $6.3 million expansion.
Rewined Candles
Charleston’s very own candle company, sees mixology-inspired wax creations poured in upcycled wine bottles. Signature scents include Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, with seasonal offerings (Crush, Spiked Cider, Burning of the Vines) and cocktail candles (Cosmopolitan, French 75, Gin Fizz) ready to help you embark on a new aromatic adventure.
Smithey Ironware
Whether you’re prepping some Carolina rice or about to bake some honey cornbread, it’ll probably taste better made in a piece of Smithey Ironware. Founder Isaac Morton began his company in his backyard by restoring vintage cookware. Now, Smithey produces new pieces that use modern technology to improve on vintage styling.
Sweetgrass
The art of weaving baskets is a centuries-old tradition in Charleston. Artists use a technique passed down from African weavers to turn locally harvested bulrush into baskets that are prized by locals and tourists alike. There are even sweetgrass baskets in the Smithsonian, but you can still get your own — well under museum-level pricing — at local Charleston shops.
Stay tuned — we’ll continue to update this article with more amazing local brands and businesses putting Charleston on the map.
