White House honors SC bow tie company that has donated almost 3,000 face masks
A South Carolina company that has gained attention in recent years from celebrities wearing its fashionable products has now been recognized by the White House for its recent initiative to provide face coverings amid the pandemic.
Brackish Bow Ties was honored by President Donald Trump for its Masks by Makers program that has donated nearly 3,000 cloth face masks to health care workers in South Carolina and at least nine other states over the past two months.
“We never started it to garner any honors. We just wanted to do our part,” said Ben Ross, a Columbia resident who co-founded the Charleston-based fashion company.
Masks by Makers was hatched by the Brackish artists, who were looking for helpful ways to use their skills as coronavirus infections spread and the pandemic slowed the economy in March, Ross said.
“It’s an honor to work with people who have their heart and heads in the right places,” Ross said.
At first, Brackish began making face masks from cloth leftover from making its signature bow ties and fashion accessories. But the company has produced so many masks that it is now buying fabric specifically for the face coverings, Ross said.
In addition to donating more than 2,900 masks to health care workers as of Tuesday morning, Brackish also is providing two complimentary masks to customers with each order of regular products from its online store.
Ross represented the company May 15 at a White House presidential recognition ceremony that honored “hard work, heroism and hope” amid the pandemic. Brackish was recognized alongside several other individuals and businesses, including a New York City police officer who had recovered from COVID-19 and a nurse from West Virginia who volunteered to work in an overwhelmed Brooklyn hospital.
“It was very humbling to be there and be recognized,” Ross said. “The real heroes of this are the doctors and nurses and first responders on the front lines. We’re just trying to assist them.”
Since its founding in 2012, Brackish has gained respect and popularity far beyond South Carolina. Ross and co-founder Jeff Plotner grew the company after Ross handcrafted turkey feather bow ties for the groomsmen in his wedding. Brackish now is known for its uniquely styled, handmade feather bow ties and other fashion accessories, from pocket squares to jewelry.
Brackish bow ties famously have been sported by a wide range of celebrities including actors Bill Murray (naturally) and Ted Danson; former NFL MVP Cam Newton; and actress Blake Lively.
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 12:34 PM.
