Brackish Review: Feather Bow Tie Sizing, Prices, Shipping Limits and the Repair Program

Brackish makes feather accessories by hand in Charleston, South Carolina, and sells them through its own website. The brand is best known for feather bow ties, which cost $225 for nearly every style, but it also sells lapel pins, pocket squares, cufflinks, cummerbunds, belts, earrings, cuffs and feather-inlay handbags, from $75 for a pin to $795 for a cummerbund.

This review covers what Brackish sells, how its bow ties are sized and made, prices, shipping limits for feathered pieces, the 30-day return policy and the brand's two-year repair program.

What Brackish sells

The brand's About page says Brackish was founded by Ben Ross and Jeff Plotner and began with a single feather bow tie Ben made as a gift for his groomsmen. Each piece is designed and handmade in the brand's Charleston studio. The site's product feed listed about 460 items when we checked:

• Bow ties: about 55 styles, in a standard and a slim shape, plus children's sizes.
• Formal accessories: feather lapel pins, feather and silk pocket squares, cufflinks, cufflink and stud sets, tuxedo studs, tie clips and cummerbunds.
• Belts: men's, women's and unisex leather belts with feather inlays.
• Jewelry: stud, drop and statement earrings, thin and wide cuffs, bracelets, necklaces, rings, brooches and hair pins.
• Handbags: bucket bags, crossbody bags, clutches and top-handle bags with feather details.
• Gifts and extras: keychains, travel cases, trucker hats, silk scarves, a candle and gift cards.

The site also has a wedding section with a "For the Groom & Groomsmen" collection and says a wedding specialist can help couples plan. It does not publish group pricing, minimums or lead times for wedding orders.

How Brackish bow ties are sized and made

Brackish bow ties are not self-tie. The FAQ says a self-tie feather bow is "nearly impossible due to its construction," so each one is a finished bow on a band collar. The product pages we read list:

• Neck strap: adjustable from 13 to 21 inches with a hook closure. The FAQ says to contact customer service if you need a larger or smaller strap.
• Standard bow tie: 2.5 inches tall and 4.5 inches wide (James Bow Tie).
• Slim bow tie: 2 inches tall and 4 inches wide (Rice Slim Bow Tie).
• Children's bow tie: available in any men's design at 3 inches wide and 1.75 inches long, with a 3 to 4 week lead time, ordered by email.
• Time to make: product pages say about six hours per bow tie, although another section of the site says 4 to 5 hours for all accessories. Cummerbunds take around 20 hours.

Because the feathers are natural, the brand says color, size and shape vary slightly, so your piece will not match the photo exactly. On sourcing, the FAQ says no bird is harmed for its feathers, and that feathers come from naturally molting birds where possible or from farmers raising free-range birds, feathers that would otherwise be discarded. That is the brand's claim; it does not name suppliers or a certification. Some designs use undyed feathers, such as the Bear cufflink and stud set in natural guinea feathers.

Care matters with feathers. The brand says to avoid sprays, creams, water and makeup, take pieces off before showering, swimming or exercising, and store them in the wooden box or a jewelry box. If feathers lift, it suggests a light mist of alcohol-based hairspray from about 8 inches and smoothing them with one finger.

Prices

Prices are in US dollars and were the same across nearly every bow tie. Examples at the time of writing:

• Bow ties and slim bow ties: $225; three styles (Piton, Soufriere and Jeffersonville) were $245
• Children's bow tie: $195
• Feather lapel pins: $75 to $85
• Silk pocket squares: $85; feather pocket squares: $115
• Tie clips: $125; cufflinks: $145; cufflink and stud sets: $225
• Men's belts: $165 to $275; women's belts: $125 to $215
• Earrings: $95 to $275; cuffs: $135 to $295
• Handbags: $395 to $695
• Cummerbunds: $795

Pieces arrive in a hand-branded pine gift box with a list of the feathers used and care instructions. Optional extras are box engraving ($25, at least 7 business days, not available with express shipping), embroidery ($30, about 2 weeks) and gift wrap ($8). All three are non-refundable. We did not see markdowns on the product feed when we checked.

Shipping

The site banner offers complimentary shipping on orders of $225 or more, which means a single bow tie qualifies. The loyalty section of the FAQ says members of the Backwater Society program get free shipping on orders over $200, so check the threshold shown at checkout. Below the threshold, the FAQ says costs depend on the shipping speed, and expedited or non-continental US orders are priced by weight, location and UPS rates; no fixed rate table is published.

Timing statements conflict. Product pages say in-stock items ship within 1 to 2 business days in one section and 1 to 3 business days in another, while the FAQ says to allow 3 to 5 days of processing for standard orders and that expedited orders process the next business day. Made-to-order items need an extra 1 to 2 weeks, and holiday orders may take longer. For a wedding, order several weeks ahead, especially if you want engraving or embroidery, which cannot be combined with express shipping.

International buyers should read the fine print: the FAQ says that, because of international regulations, Brackish cannot ship all feathered pieces outside the US. It links a list of eligible products, and the buyer pays any duties or taxes on delivery.

Returns and warranty

The return policy is short and strict on condition:

• Window: 30 days from purchase for orders bought directly from Brackish, with "no exceptions."
• Condition: unused, in the same condition and original packaging. Pieces showing signs of wear cannot be returned, and every return must pass the brand's quality control team before a refund.
• Not refunded: shipping costs, gift wrap, promotional items, box engraving and embroidery.
• Return shipping: product pages say "Free returns in the USA," but the returns page itself does not state domestic return-shipping terms. International returns do not get complimentary return shipping, and duties paid on delivery are deducted from the refund.
• How to start: use the online form with your order number and zip code, or contact info@brackish.com or 843.469.8833.

Brackish also runs a Care Commitment for registered pieces. Feather designs get one complimentary repair or replacement within two years of purchase if the feathers lose their integrity, and the FAQ says tarnished or broken hardware can be replaced within one year. It covers manufacturing or craftsmanship defects, not wear and tear or misuse, and repairs must be sent from and returned to a US address. The page also said repair service would pause from November 2, 2026 and reopen in January 2027, so check the current status before relying on it. Register your piece soon after it arrives.

Who should buy from Brackish

• Grooms and wedding parties who want coordinated, handmade bow ties, pins and pocket squares.
• Black-tie and holiday guests who want a statement accessory and do not want to tie a bow.
• Gift buyers who value the pine gift box and engraving option and can order ahead.

Look elsewhere if you want a classic silk self-tie bow, need a bow tie that can get wet or be worn hard, live outside the US and want a feathered piece, or have a budget well under $200.

Brackish coupon codes

We did not find a verified public code at the time of writing, and we do not publish codes we cannot check. Savings we could verify on the site are free shipping on orders of $225 or more and a Backwater Society loyalty program, which the FAQ says includes free shipping over $200. The newsletter sign-up promises updates on new releases and special offers but does not state a specific discount. Any working offers we find are listed on our Brackish coupons page.

Frequently asked questions

Are Brackish bow ties pre-tied?

Yes, in effect. They are finished bows on an adjustable band collar with a hook closure, and the brand says it does not make self-tie feather bows.

Will a Brackish bow tie fit my neck?

The strap adjusts from 13 to 21 inches. If you need something outside that range, the FAQ says to contact customer service.

Can I get matching bow ties for groomsmen and a ring bearer?

Most bow ties are the same $225 price, and children's versions of any men's design can be ordered by email with a 3 to 4 week lead time. For larger wedding orders, the site directs couples to its wedding team; group pricing is not published.

Does Brackish ship internationally?

Only some products. Not all feathered pieces can ship outside the US, and the brand links a list of eligible items. Duties are paid by the buyer on delivery.

Can a damaged feather bow tie be repaired?

Registered feather pieces get one complimentary repair or replacement within two years of purchase for loss of feather integrity, at US addresses only. Check whether repair service is paused before sending.

The bottom line

Brackish is a specialist in handmade feather accessories, with a consistent $225 price for most bow ties, clear sizing on an adjustable band, gift-ready packaging and a two-year repair program. The trade-offs are a premium price, feathers that need gentle care, limits on international shipping and inconsistent shipping-time statements. Order early for events, skip non-refundable extras if you may return the piece, and register it once it arrives.

Visit Brackish

Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on the Brackish website at the time of writing and may change.