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

🌍 Ibu

In their words: “Join a world-wide web of women on the move, rising into self-created lives.”

📍 183 King St.

🔎 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

📿 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.”

📍 208 Coming St.

🔎 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.”

📍Online only

🔎 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.”

📍 Online only

🔎 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

👚 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.

📍Online only

🔎 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!”

📍 68 Spring St.

🔎 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

🌊 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!”

📍 88 N. Market St.

🔎 The clothing is made from the regenerated nylon fiber of recycled fishing nets.

Menswear

⛅ OOBE BRAND

In their words: “Designing and delivering foundational clothing to outfit people for work and adventure.”

📍 161 King St.

🔎 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.

📍 294 King St.

🔎 You’ll most likely recognize this storefront, as it has become a staple of downtown Charleston.

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