Brackish
Established · Under $200 · Charleston, United States
Feather earrings and bracelets from sustainably sourced plumage, wearable art that takes up to five hours to make.
Think: Handcrafted feather accessories, artisan, nature-inspired.
The buy: the feather earring
What to buy
the feather earring
Categories
Occasions
Why Brackish is worth it
Brackish turns real feathers into jewelry with the depth of a painting: earrings and cuffs layered by hand, one at a time, in a Charleston studio.
Each piece starts with natural feathers, from goose and pheasant to guinea, rooster and peacock, picked out one by one and layered into drops, fans and cuffs set in gold-plated hardware. The plumage does the work: the polka dots of guinea, the shimmer of a peacock eye, soft color shifts that move with you, and the earrings wear far lighter than they look. Every piece takes four to five hours of handwork, so no two come out quite the same.
Brackish picks
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About Brackish
Brackish began in 2007, when Ben Ross made feather bow ties for the groomsmen at his wedding. One of them, Jeff Plotner, kept coming back to the idea, and in 2012 the two founded the company in Charleston, South Carolina.
The name nods to the place where fresh and salt water meet. Bow ties came first, and a women's line of feather earrings, cuffs and necklaces followed, made by the same artisans in the same studio.
- Founded
- 2012
- Founded by
- Ben Ross and Jeff Plotner
- Based in
- Charleston, United States
- Made in
- Handcrafted in Charleston, South Carolina
- Made of
- Natural feathers in gold-plated hardware, with some brass, acrylic and leather
- Shipping
- Ships across the US, free over $225; only some feathered pieces can ship abroad because of import rules, and international buyers pay duties on delivery.
- Where to buy
- Brackish's own site · Our Brackish picks
What shoppers say
From reviews and try-on videos, in our words.
- Care
Feathers don't like moisture: keep them away from water, perfume, lotion and makeup, take them off to shower, swim or work out, and store them in the box they come in. A light mist of alcohol-based hairspray smooths lifted feathers.
- Feel and fit
The earrings are light for their size, and posts are nickel-free gold plate for sensitive ears. Cuffs are firm but can be gently opened or closed to fit your wrist.
- Repairs
Register a piece and Brackish repairs or replaces it once for free if the feathers fray, lift or flake during the first two years, and replaces hardware that tarnishes or breaks during the first year.
- Sourcing
Brackish says no bird is harmed for its feathers: they are collected after molting or come from farms that raise free-range birds. Natural variation means each piece differs a little from the photos.
- Shipping and returns
US shipping is free over $225, and unworn pieces can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Only some feathered pieces can ship abroad, and international buyers pay duties on delivery.
How we'd wear Brackish
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Brackish in our edits
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Brackish, answered
- What is Brackish?
- Brackish is a Charleston, South Carolina label that hand-makes accessories from natural feathers, known for feather bow ties and, for women, feather earrings and cuffs.
- Is Brackish a good brand?
- Yes. We like it for jewelry that looks like no one else's: real feathers layered by hand into earrings and cuffs, four to five hours of work per piece in its Charleston studio, and a repair program that stands behind them.
- Who founded Brackish?
- Ben Ross and Jeff Plotner founded Brackish in 2012, five years after Ross made feather bow ties for his groomsmen.
- Where is Brackish from?
- Charleston, South Carolina, where every feathered piece is handcrafted in its studio.
- What is Brackish made of?
- Natural feathers such as goose, pheasant, guinea, rooster, peacock and turkey, set in gold-plated hardware, with nickel-free earring posts.
- Are Brackish feathers ethically sourced?
- Brackish says no bird is harmed for its feathers: they are gathered after molting or come as a by-product of farms that raise free-range birds.
- Does Brackish ship internationally?
- Partly. Import rules keep some feathered pieces in the US, and international buyers pay duties on delivery. In the US, shipping is free over $225.
- Where can I buy Brackish?
- On the brand's own site, where US shipping is free over $225, or through our Brackish picks.
- Which brands are like Brackish?
- If you like Brackish, look at Sita Nevado, Loveness Lee, Paola Sighinolfi and Julietta.