50% polyester blend. 100% Charleston.
Fact: Charlestonians are some of the best-dressed people in the U.S. It isn’t just because we know how to put together an outfit: dozens of nationally + internationally- recognized clothing brands are based right here in the Lowcountry.
Below are a few of our closet staples, broken down for you by category.
Dresses
Image provided by Ibu
🌍 Ibu
In their words: “Join a world-wide web of women on the move, rising into self-created lives.”
🔎 Ibu works with women artisans in 34 countries to produce their products, promoting economic self-sustainability within their local communities.
✂ Borough
How it started: Ashley Worrall moved to Charleston + started Borough after studying textiles at NC State.
📍 Find this brand at Skinny Dip Charleston + Cannonborough Collective
🔎 Dresses + accessories featuring Charleston-inspired prints.
🏖 Escapada
In their words: “An escape from the ordinary, evoking the comfort and color of the islands every time you slip on a sundress.”
📍 644F Long Point Rd. (Mount Pleasant)
🔎 Dresses that seamlessly flow from a day on the beach to a night on the town– and with prices ranging from $36- $88, you won’t have to break the bank to buy one. If you’re not in the area, no worries– Escapada can be found in over than 2,000 boutiques across the globe.
👗Senza Tempo
In their words: “Classic elegance for the modern woman.”
📍 Online only (made in L.A., based in Charleston)
🔎 This dress line emphasizes quality as well as function – that’s while you’ll find pockets (yes, pockets!) on many of the skirts + dresses.
Jewelry
Image provided by Lina Rosa
📿 Lina Rosa
In their words: “The name ‘Lina Rosa’ derives from her grandmothers’ names and ethnicities - Lina, for her grandmother Pauline who immigrated to America from Poland when she was 2 years old– and Rosa, for her Puerto Rican grandmother who loved flowers and the color pink.”
📍 Find it at Mylkbar in Mount Pleasant
🔎 Paulina Rodriguez designs + makes Lina Rosa jewelry by herself– sometimes spending up to 12 hours threading beads on a single design.
🎨 BR Design
How it started: Sisters Carlene Browner + Cassandra Browner Richardson began BR design a decade ago.
📍 Charleston City Market, or online through Etsy
🔎 Colorful jewelry made out of polymer clay, as well as wooden + leather items.
💎JK Designs
In her words: “My passion is hand selecting gemstones and incorporating them into new designs to add to my collection.”
📍Charleston City Market, or online here
🔎 Owner + designer Jessica Cashman makes custom pieces in addition to the collection.
Accessories
👜 J. Stark
In their words: “Obsessive quality. Timeless design. Made in USA.”
🔎 The name of this men’s accessory line was inspired by James Dean’s character, Jim Stark, in Rebel Without a Cause.
👞 Thelma
In their words: “Through a building blocks approach to womenswear, THELMA puts thoughtful twists on archetypal garments customarily found in menswear.”
🔎 Founder Amanda Greeley lives + works in Charleston. Her line of loafers are 100% leather + made in Italy.
⛵ Charleston Belt
In their words: “We use natural fabrics and materials, and strive for clean, uncluttered designs that coordinate well with casual and dress fashions.”
🔎 The company also makes custom products for schools, clubs, + specialty shops.
🦃 Brackish Bowties
How it started: Creator Ben Ross got his start in 2007, when he handcrafted a set of turkey feather bow ties for his groomsmen.
📍Sold in several stores around Charleston. Search locations here.
🔎 Each bowtie is handcrafted locally by real, hand-picked feathers.
T-Shirts
Image provided by Nearly Native
👚 Nearly Native
How it started: Co-founders Stephanie + Vince lived in a combined 15 different places before landing in Charleston. The two consider Charleston to be home + embrace the concept of being “nearly” native.
🔎 Rep your status as a Charleston transplant with this line of t-shirts, decals + Koozies.
👕 Artisan Tees
In their words: “Buy a tee, plant a tree!”
🔎 Graphic t-shirts + custom screen printing. Every time you buy a shirt from their website, Artisan Tees will donate $1 toward planting a tree. 🌳
🇺🇸 United Tees
In their words: “Live the American dream”
📍: Online only (but based in Charleston)
🔎: Patriotic + preppy graphic tees + tanks. Also offers monogramming.
Outdoors
Image provided by Free Fly Apparel
🌊 Free Fly
How it started: Family members Tanner, Jenna + Austin quit their corporate jobs and moved across the country to start Free Fly after sharing a round of Game Changers at Home Team BBQ.
📍 Find it in outdoors stores such as Half-Moon Outfitters + Las Olas.
🔎 Using a combination of bamboo + other fast-drying materials, these shirts are perfect for wearing near the water.
👙 Citrine Swim
In their words: “Super soft fabrics, seamless fits, and inspired designs make the line perfect for beach lovers and pool goers alike.”
📍 Find this line at Channels (Downtown) + Drift (Mt. Pleasant)
🔎 Designed here in Charleston with the idea of combining local style with Hawaiian influences.
🐟 Shore Thing Outfitters
In their words: “From coast to coast, if it’s an outdoor thing, it’s a shore thing!”
🔎 The clothing is made from the regenerated nylon fiber of recycled fishing nets.
Menswear
Image provided by OOBE BRAND
⛅ OOBE BRAND
In their words: “Designing and delivering foundational clothing to outfit people for work and adventure.”
🔎 Stop by their lower-King storefront to shop an original line of Charleston-inspired menswear + savor a glass in the bourbon room upstairs. A couple times a month, they’ll host live music + refreshments from local brands like Basic Kitchen, Bib.On, and Revelator Coffee Co.
👔 M. Dumas & Sons
How it started: When Mendel Dumas founded the store in 1917 (that’s more than a century ago!), it provided uniforms for naval officers stationed in Charleston.
🔎 You’ll most likely recognize this storefront, as it has become a staple of downtown Charleston.
Anchorman .gif by giphy
What are your go-to Charleston brands? Let us know which ones we missed in the comments below.
You stay classy, Charleston.
–Jen, Multimedia Producer
