Christian & Small is proud to congratulate State Traditions LLC for being selected as one of Birmingham’s Top 15 Entrepreneurial Ventures by the Birmingham Business Journal. The Entrepreneur Spotlight Awards were presented Thursday, October 17, at a reception hosted by Samford University’s Brock School of Business. These awards highlight successful entrepreneurial ventures in Birmingham – from successful startups and up-and-coming firms to established endeavors. See an interview with State Traditions at Entrepreneur Spotlight.
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, State Traditions creates top-notch, state and country-inspired apparel and accessories that reflect traditions across America and the world. The brand is the brainchild of friends Keith Brown and John McElrath who were looking for a creative way to showcase their state pride both around town and at the stadium in the summer of 2007. They came up with the idea of lifestyle apparel featuring states and other imagery. At first, they designed only a few images for polo shirts. The shirts were so well received, however, that they quickly expanded their line to include hats, t-shirts, and visors. Another friend, Maury Lyon, soon joined the team, and the three, along with a small staff of full and part-time employees, presently spend their days meeting their 250-and-counting store orders, filling online orders, showcasing the brand at markets, traveling to events across the country, developing new products for upcoming collections, and much more. The brand now also offers ties, belts, iphone cases, and other accessories and has imagery for every state in America as well as a burgeoning international line.