Our Story
Back in 2009, in the middle of the first recession I'd encountered as an adult, I made a conscious decision to start spending locally and only buying American-made whenever possible. I grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the grandchildren of proud textile mill workers and had seen first hand what can happen to a local economy when manufacturing (and jobs) are shipped overseas. When I was a kid in the 80s, the classic polo shirt everyone knows (the one with the horse on it) was actually made in South Carolina. Yet, when I tried to find a Carolina-made polo shirt in 2009, I was out of luck - I could barely even find one made in America! And, unfortunately, those that were made in America were either meant to be worn as a uniform or incredibly expensive. I wanted to solve that. I knew with South Carolina's rich textile history - and talent - that a quality, good-looking polo could be made here.
While all of this was going through my head, I was on a beach in the Lowcountry, relaxing and thinking about just how beautiful the Carolina coast is, and how I hope it stays that way long enough for me to enjoy it with my grandkids just as it is now. That's when the idea for Loggerhead Apparel was born. An all American-made clothing brand represented by the South Carolina state reptile - and everyone's favorite sea turtle, the loggerhead.
I went through the (long) process of sourcing materials and manufacturing partners that could help bring this to life and launched the first product - the Bellwether Polo - in 2010. The Bellwether was made from made from 100% American Pima cotton (considered among the world's finest) and sewn right here in South Carolina. Once launched, the brand was picked up by local news and shared hundreds of times on social media. The word got out, and over the first year or two of being in business, the brand had been featured in Southern Living, Men's Health, The Today Show, Evening News with Diane Sawyer, CNBC and a host of others. People responded to both the "Made in America" message and the fact that every shirt did a little good for the coast as well.
Over the years, as life got busier with three amazing children, the amount of time and focus I could dedicate to Loggerhead has varied, but I remain dedicated to the causes that inspired the brand and providing customers with a quality piece of clothing that looks good, feels good and does good. Loggerhead has donated over $125K to sea turtle conservation efforts and has been purchased by someone in all 50 states - I never would have predicted that in 2009!
Keep an eye out in early 2025 for new looks and new products - same mission, as always.
And, thank you for being here and taking an interest. So many people have supported the brand along the way and I hope that continues for the next 15 years!
- Zac Painter, Founder