We were lucky to catch up with Ben Ross recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ben thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I got married, I wanted to give a gift from my heart to family and friends which reflected how much I loved them, and how much they have, and continue to have, an impact on my life, all while incorporating a touch of the outdoors. Truth be told, I have had a love affair with the outdoors all my life and since the age of 9 or 10, I have crafted fletchings for arrows and fly fishing flies from feathers I procured during my time exploring the outdoors. While making final decisions on my groomsman gift, it just so happened that I had a bow tie and a turkey feather laying on the dining room table – it was then that I noticed the natural shape and tapering of the feather fit the bow tie design perfectly. That was the lightbulb moment and when the very first feather bow tie was created. That was over 15 years ago, and since then our incredible team of artisans have continued my passion for focusing on the details, products, purpose and meaning for each and every piece in our collection. I pour myself into everything we do at Brackish, putting my heart and soul in every endeavor. Over the years I have come to know that when you listen to, and follow your heart, it always will lead you to where you are supposed to be. Never in my wildest dreams did I think way back then that sentimental gift would later become the start of a company and change my life forever.

Ben , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My entire life, I always gravitated towards the outdoors; I feel more comfortable on the water or in the woods than I do anywhere else. My appreciation for the outdoors has taught me to find the beauty that surrounds us everyday and that sometimes that beauty is in the smallest of details in the most unexpected places. I took that mindset and applied it to my endeavors in life, and now I incorporate it into my business. While it started with a singular piece of menswear, we have taken this unexpected material and crafted a full line of men’s and women’s accessories. The creativity that Brackish has allowed me is truly unmatched.

Not only do our finished products offer a unique sense of style through wearable works of art, each piece has meaning. With each design detail thoroughly thought out, it was important that our company name set the tone for all that we do. Brackish water is the combination of salt and fresh water – a direct representation of where myself and my co-founder Jeff grew up (Jeff on St. Simon’s Island, GA and me in Columbia, SC). Having both of us represented in the name was incredibly important – it gives a nod to our roots, where we are from, and kick started an obsession for adding purpose in all we do. I pour myself completely into this company; I give it my all because the alternative is unacceptable. When you get to wake up and do something for a living that you created from your heart and love to be a part of, you just have to give it everything.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I truly believe that our customers and vendor partners see that Brackish is authentic and that I put my heart and soul into this company, our products and our people. We don’t just sell products we create them – we perfect them and they all come from an organic process of digging into my passion for the outdoors and wild places. Each step in the process is an important one. From the design to the name to the hand-branded logo on each box, all of these and more have been poured over for months and sometimes years putting my passion, purpose, meaning and thought into everything we do. I think that anyone who takes a moment to give us a look will see that Brackish, at its heart, is about family, friends and feathers. When we burn that “B” into the box lid, we stand behind what’s inside. We have the most talented group of feather artist in the world; once our product makes it to you it has been through a minimum 5 hands and has taken at least 4 hours to complete. This is why Brackish has been recognized as the leader in the fashion industry. It is not just because we use an interesting medium, but because we care deeply about our customer’s experience and ensuring that the final product is something to be treasured by the wearer. This is why I always say that it is an honor to wake up everyday and work alongside such incredibly talented individuals; I pinch myself each and every day because I cannot believe it’s not just a dream – I truly am living in my dreams.

How’d you meet your business partner?

It was August of 1997 and I was headed to Wofford College on a baseball scholarship and starting the next phase of my young life. All of the athletic teams had to report early to get settled and start our workout regimen, training schedules and to bond with the team. It just so happens that Jeff was also starting Wofford, but on a soccer scholarship, and was part of this early arrival. It was during this time that we met, and as luck would have it, we were living the the same freshman dorm (Marsh Hall). While we bonded over our love of sports, we quickly realized that we had many shared interests and from there our friendship was born. Nearly 26 years later, we are not only business partners but still incredibly close friends. I feel so lucky to get to work alongside someone who has played such an important role in both my personal and professional life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brackish.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brackish/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brackishbrand
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/brackish/