The Artisans Keeping the Soul of Charleston's King Street Alive

In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.

This week: Step onto King Street, Charleston's iconic retail corridor, where three centuries of commerce come alive. From century-old family businesses to contemporary local makers, discover how Charleston's shopping scene preserves history while embracing innovation—one handcrafted treasure at a time.

(And be sure to listen to episode one, where we set sail on Charleston's many waterways, and episode two, where we dive into the city's iconic food scene.)

In this episode, you'll learn

How M. Dumas and Sons evolved from selling Navy uniforms to becoming Charleston's menswear institution since 1917

The story of the Preservation Society of Charleston—and its fantastic shop, filled with all local products.

How Croghan's Jewel Box has been engraving Charleston's history for 117 years—while also embracing modern technology

How Brackish turns sustainably sourced feathers into wearable art worn by celebrities from Bill Murray to Blake Lively

What makes King Street's three distinct zones unique—and why you might be underdressed for dinner

The significance of sweetgrass baskets and their generational craftsmanship

Featured Guests

Gary Flynn: Co-owner and CEO of M. Dumas and Sons, Charleston's century-old menswear institution

Brian Turner: CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston, America's first grassroots preservation organization

Jonathan Free: Retail manager at the Preservation Society Shop

Rhett Ramsay Outten: Third-generation owner of Croghan's Jewel Box, Charleston's oldest family-run jewelry store

Don't miss these moments*

[2:30] How M. Dumas and Sons became the number one Levi's dealer in South Carolina after WWII

[4:00] The charming story of how a sport coat pattern with "a little bit of pink" brings out Charleston's colorful style

[8:45] Susan Pringle Frost's pioneering preservation work that saved King Street's architecture

[14:30] How Brackish bow ties made from sustainable feathers became a celebrity favorite

[17:00] The day Rhett's mother sold her personal signet ring with the family crest to "a lovely man from Ohio"

[19:30] Watch master jewelers transform postage-stamp-sized materials into heirloom pieces

*Time stamps are estimated and may change due to programmatic advertising.

Resources

Read the transcript of the episode

Plan your Charleston trip using our guide on afar.com, and learn more about where and how to support local businesses.

Join the Preservation Society for 10 percent off purchases at their shop

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