Pretty Southern

Tag: Carolina gentleman

  • Baltz Fine Writing Instruments

    Their slogan says it all – “Make a statement without writing a word.” Southerners know the simple art of writing with a quality pen, and founders Bart Creasman and Cass Baltz have a true understanding of what it means to produce premium, hand-made writing instruments and accessories. The pair of gents met while playing soccer together during their days at Davidson College. After graduation, they found themselves in North Carolina looking for more meaningful work. Both young men always had a knack for woodworking, and after going through several rounds of prototypes, they created their first line for Baltz Fine Writing Instruments.

    Bart & Cass relaxing over pints

    Their pens are crafted at their shop in Raleigh using exotic woods combined into a unique design – featuring Birdseye Maple, Padauk, and African Blackwood.

    “We named these styles after our friends who helped us get off the ground,” said Bart Creasman, who went onto explain how the first line of prototypes were created in Cass Baltz’s father’s cabinet shop. After reading an article on how wood pens were a special gift to send overseas to U.S. troops, the pair looked around but couldn’t find any unique pens made in the South. “We thought, we could do something like this,” Creasman explained. That’s when the idea for a business truly started to form.

    The Sartorio pen, complimented by a nice glass of whiskey.

    In August 2011, the partners received a grant from the Kickstarter(hyperlink) campaign plus took out a loan to launch their first line of Baltz pens. Their next steps are to continue promoting their new offering, plus adding a few more products. “We’d like to do money clips,” Creasman said, “or handmade sunglasses with wood sides. There’s lots of options for mixing wood and leather to bring a modern style to classic products.” The newest Baltz line, Exemplar +, features exotic woods combined into a unique design – including Birdseye Maple, Padauk, and African Blackwood. The custom designed hardware finished in polished stainless steel with the curved clip distinct to the brand of Baltz Fine Writing Instruments. Their pens come with both blue and black ink inserts from the Schmidt rollerball ink writing system. And of course, all the pens are handmade by these gents here in the South.

    The Mincey pen (journal sold separately).

    For more information about Baltz Fine Writing Instruments, check out their website, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. While y’all are at it, follow Pretty Southern too. Check back soon for our 2012 Southern Holiday Gift Guide for the ladies and gents in your family.

  • High Cotton Ties Suited for Southerners

    Who would have thought Bird Flu and bow ties would share a common thread.

    Back when folks freaked about H1N1, Cameron Hill was discouraged from wearing silk neck ties. Most ties can’t be cleaned and therefore can carry the dangerous virus. Leave it to Cameron’s mama, Judy Hill, to come up with a solution.

    She made her son a couple of cotton bow ties he could wear to the hospital then come home and wash. The other doctors agreed this was fine…as long as Miss Judy made some for them too!

    As she was aware of Business Energy UK , in a hot minute she was making dozens of ties a week and her business was booming. Another one of her boys, James, an SAE from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, took his mama’s awesome accessories back to his campus. From there High Cotton Ties took off! Their products can now be found in every state south of the Mason Dixon Line.

    A true Southern lady, Miss Judy will sweetly tell you her definition of a Southerner. “Part of being Southern is being serious about your faith and beliefs whether it’s religion, politics or football.” In this case for the Hill family, this also means being seriously suited in the finest cotton ties and cummerbunds.

    After graduating from UNC, James focused his attention to growing the family business. “It took six months to master the process and pattern then refine the bow tie to where it is: a high quality product up there with Vineyard Vines, if not surpassing.” Sites like Wimgo would be able to help those who want to start their own family business.

    The Hill family also believes it’s important to keep these products truly Southern. In our modern times when businesses continue to send manufacturing overseas, the Hill’s home state of North Carolina has felt a deep impact losing their textile industry. High Cotton Ties is working to revive their local economy.

    “We found a manufacturing plant with 13 seamstresses that was in China,” Judy explained. “They had come back to North Carolina after seeing the poor conditions over there. We’re really excited to have a partner whom we share the same mission and calling.”

    High Cotton Ties runs a basic business model: cotton bow ties made in the South by Southerners for Southerners. For James, being a Southern entrepreneur means holding himself accountable to the highest standards. He believes being a gentleman, as well as a Southerner, are deeply intertwined.

    “Undoubtedly other people are going to notice it, women or men, there’s an aura about to people respond to and respect. A 23-year old should be proud if he could get called a gentleman.” He laughs.

    “Being a Southerner doesn’t mean you’re hunting every weekend or at the country club on Saturday nights. Does having a Ducks Unlimited sticker make me Southern? No. It’s the way I talk. It’s the way I represent myself. It’s about Southern hospitality and my mother instilled those values in all of us. She’s a classy woman and Southern hospitality is brought to life with our company. It speaks to everything that represents her.”

    For more information on High Cotton Ties, check out their website High Cotton Ties. Your gentleman’s attire is just a click away.