Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to
NC State College of Design, Raleigh At the North Carolina State University College of Design, students transform emotion into form, and tell stories through textiles. One common thread is the story
NC State College of Design, Raleigh At the North Carolina State University College of Design, students transform emotion into form, and tell stories through textiles. One common thread is the story
Meet North Carolina’s New Crop of Fashion Entrepreneurs
Our state’s fabric and design story began 115 years ago, with denim. It’s far from over. Take a look at the next chapters of design — audacious, traditional, practical — in the talent cropping up from Asheville to the Outer Banks. For these fashion designers and entrepreneurs utilizing everything from leather to feathers in their creations, “shop local” has an entirely different meaning.
At the North Carolina State University College of Design, students transform emotion into form, and tell stories through textiles. One common thread is the story of our state. The Art2Wear program, sponsored in part by Cary-based Cotton Incorporated, showcases designs that draw from global, national, and most importantly, local inspiration. The program has been a stepping-stone for local fashion brands such as Raleigh Denim, Holly Aiken, and Lumina. design.ncsu.edu
Lumina Clothing Company, Raleigh
What started as a North Carolina State University College of Design hobby in 2009 has grown from small-scale neckwear into a basic menswear line in downtown Raleigh. Inspired by the power of domestic production in a declining North Carolina textile industry, Barton Strawn adopted the Lumina mission: to source and produce quality basics that complement the male wardrobe, right here in the USA — and North Carolina. luminaclothing.com
TS Designs, Burlington
In 1993, as the apparel industry looked overseas for lower-priced labor, CEO Tom Sineath and president Eric Henry held their ground in Burlington, and decided it was time to “fix the T-shirt” for good. From the cotton farmer in New London all the way to your dresser drawers, the dirt-to-shirt brand reinvented the way T-shirts are made. Theirs are socially-conscious, environmentally sound, and trackable within 600 miles of the Carolinas.tsdesigns.com
Holdfast Outfitters, Asheville
Kelp’s holdfast, a rootlike structure, binds it to the seafloor. After traveling across the country, Courtney Leigh Johnson founded Holdfast Outfitters in the mountains of western North Carolina — a place she wanted to be anchored to. Her “mountains to sea” designs are inspired by the nature of the state and an outdoor Asheville lifestyle, one that ranges from mountain climbing to brewery hopping, all in a day’s time. holdfastoutfitters.com
High Cotton, Raleigh
To owner and founder Judy Hill, High Cotton isn’t just about bow ties and shirts; it’s a “made in the South mission” that came together as more of a dream than a men’s apparel company. Handcrafted in the Mount Airy area, the ties support the revitalization of the state’s textile industry and the Southern tradition of an approachable, well-dressed gentleman. After all, the first High Cotton tie started as a gift to Hill’s son. highcottonties.com
Zass Design, Raleigh
Mother-daughter team Zulay and Steph Smith were at very different stages of their lives when their “Aha!” moment hit, and Zass Design was born in their Raleigh home. The duo’s environmental bent and eye for design led to the creation of a jewelry line made from recycled materials, rescued throughout North Carolina, for truly one-of-a-kind pieces. For this pair, every material has a purpose, and each piece tells a unique story of its past, present, and future. zassdesign.com
Map of Days, Carrboro
As Shakespeare described the visage of an ancient face as a “map of days,” leather ages and darkens with time to reveal a memoir of flawless imperfection — its own map of days. Inspired by a shared love for music and art, longtime friends Samantha Greaves and Nora Rogers reinterpret the rich utilitarian textile and craft heritage of the Piedmont into a simplistic line of natural, American-leather accessories, handmade in their Carrboro studio. mapofdays.com
Sara DeSpain, Kitty Hawk
For 40 years, designer and goldsmith Sara DeSpain has used the Outer Banks not only for inspiration, but as a mold for her jewelry designs. The beauty of the Banks and the mystic nature of the sea are translated into her representations of native shells shaped and shifted by the ocean. Just as every beachgoer has their own memories, DeSpain leaves the interpretation of the pieces up to the beholder, for their own timeless preservation of the ever-changing shore. saradespain.com
Hawks & Doves, Durham
Following a move to Durham in 2011, a stack of feed sacks compelled Jessica Ullom to revisit an old hobby: sewing. Before long, demand for Hawks & Doves products made with American-sourced textiles expanded from farmers markets to stores throughout the Southeast. Her kitchen accessories, including knife rolls, have been “used, abused, tested, and approved” by James Beard award winners, not to mention Triangle-area chefs. And the name? From her favorite Neil Young album. shophawksanddoves.com
Anjelique Kyriakos was an intern at Our State in spring 2015.
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To commemorate our 90th anniversary, we’ve compiled a time line that highlights the stories, contributors, and themes that have shaped this magazine — and your view of the Old North State — using nine decades of our own words.
From its northernmost point in Corolla to its southern terminus on Cedar Island, this scenic byway — bound between sound and sea — links the islands and communities of the Outer Banks.
Us? An icon? Well, after 90 years and more than 2,000 issues celebrating North Carolina from mountains to coast, we hope you’ll agree that we’ve earned the title.
After nearly a century — or just a couple of years — these seafood restaurants have become coastal icons, the places we know, love, and return to again and again.
