Not only do you recognize us by our feather craftsmanship, but also our pine boxes and burlap inserts. Packaging is an integral part of our process and the materials we use have meaning - just as every aspect of our designs.
Our Name
Freshwater + Saltwater = Brackish water. This is exactly how we got our name. Ben Ross, co-founder, was born and raised in Columbia, SC - a freshwater region. His best friend from college and our other co-founder, Jeff Plotner, is from St. Simons Island, GA - the saltwater coast. Where their friendship and these regions mix makes Brackish.
Our Boxes
A wood box to you, but a story to us. Each box that we use to package our pieces is made of pine wood. Another nod to the freshwater region, pine trees are found more inland near Columbia, SC where Ben is from.
Our Inserts
To highlight the saltwater coast, the packaging inside each box is made of burlap. This is representative of burlap from oyster bags - something Jeff is very familiar with from living on St. Simon’s Island, GA. Matter of fact - his first job was shucking oysters at The Crab Trap while he was in high school.
The on Box Brand
The brand that we burn on each box is a nod to Ben’s grandfather. Living in Walterboro, SC he branded all of his own personal belongings which he cherished - everything from his wallet to his tackle box. In the early days of Brackish, Ben and Jeff were found branding boxes inside on a stove. After quickly learning that filling Jeff’s apartment with smoke wasn’t the best idea, they transitioned to an open fire outside. We continue to honor this tradition today by branding all boxes at our design studio.
Our Details
Each box we package includes an information card with the style name, design details and care instructions. We use all natural feathers in our designs which are indicated here, and you can learn more about the story behind the name online. Pictured here is the North Wind. This design is named after the breeze that blows down from the north in the late fall, which prompts migratory birds to flight and bears to hibernation.
