The male bag
In his 20s, Scott Hofert traveled the world for his job, visiting nearly 40 countries. Hofert was always in search of rugged but high-end leather goods that would meet his simple needs and withstand his on-the-go lifestyle. Eventually, Hofert decided to make his own and start ColsenKeane.
Company: ColsenKeane is named in honor of his two young sons: Colsen and Keane. Started in 2010, the small family business is in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Background: Hofert is originally from Buffalo, New York, where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather ran Hofert Jewelers. Never interested in the family business of watchmaking and gemology, Hofert made an immediate connection with leather.
The goods: Hand-stitched leather products, including satchels ($395 and up); wallets ($60-$90); Moleskine covers ($80 and up); and belts ($85 for a black skinny belt to $295 and up for a limited-edition belt made from grunge leather). Also, various Apple cases and iPad covers ($64-$180).
What's popular: For the right guy, the popular No. 4211 Limited Grunge Satchel ($995 and up) is a good choice. With its four, heavy-duty buckles, the handmade bag (measures 17 inches by 12 inches by 8 inches) uses almost an entire hide and takes about six hours to make. Hofert hand-picks his hides.
Where to buy: www.colsenkeane.com. In the Atlanta area, visit Steve McKenzie's, 996 Huff Road N.W., Suite E, in the West Midtown Design district (www.stevemckenzies.com).
Make scents
Kevin Keller and Allen Shafer are well-groomed guys — with a nose for business. While pursuing their MBAs at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, they created Fulton & Roark in Winston-Salem. The company’s first product, a solid, hand-poured men’s cologne, hit stores last August.
Owners: Shafer, a Texas native, graduated from Sewanee in Tennessee. Keller, a Georgia State University grad, is from Conyers. Brandon Pakula, the company's package designer, grew up in Roswell and attended Georgia Tech. He lives in Atlanta.
Company: Fulton & Roark, a men's grooming line, is named for Keller's boxer mix (Fulton) and Shafer's yellow Lab (Roark), both rescue dogs.
Inspiration: Create a high-quality, solid cologne that performs as well as any liquid cologne, comes in a stylish, travel-friendly container and fits in a guy's pants pocket.
The goods: The three fragrances include Tybee (a light, clean musk with a hint of cedar) that is best for summer; Shackleford (woody with notes of tobacco); and Hatteras (a traditional and spicy classic). Named for islands off the Georgia and North Carolina coasts, the colognes are packaged in smart-looking square containers ($42 each). Apply cologne with your fingertip. A little dab will do you. Solid colognes are extremely concentrated and last most users four to five months.
Breaking news: Featured in June's GQ magazine.
Up next: A TSA-approved, no-foam shaving cream that is super slick to reduce razor drag.
Follow the scent to: www.fultonandroark. In the Atlanta area, visit Tweeds, 1009-A Marietta St. on the Westside (tweedsshop.com), and SQFT, 149 Sycamore St. in Decatur (sqftdecatur.com).
Tee time
As an avid and accomplished golfer, Mark Kent knows that golf shoes can be uncomfortable. After four days of competition, Kent was standing in the 18th fairway, tending to blistered feet, when he decided to create a game-changing golf sock. Easy for him. Kent is the fifth generation of his family to run Kentwool, a South Carolina-based sock company.
Company: Founded in 1843, Kentwool is one of the nation's longest-running, family-owned textile companies. All socks are made in Pickens, South Carolina.
Special materials: Made from superfine merino wool and a patented yarn technology, the golf socks feature extra cushioning and wicking, plus a blister-free guarantee.
Claim to fame: 2014 Masters champ Bubba Watson is a paid endorser.
Hot socks: Tour Profile ($19.95) is ideal for players who wear shorts or for players who wear pants but like the "sockless" feel while playing golf. Socks come in eight colors.
Off-the-course favorites: 19th Hole collection of fashion socks ($28). Choose from a variety of colors and patterns: solids, argyles and top-selling stripes.
Where to refresh your sock drawer: www.kentwoolsocks.com. In the Atlanta area, find socks at various golf pro shops and the PGA Tour Superstore, 1005 Holcomb Woods Parkway in Roswell (www.pgatoursuperstore.com). Also visit Huff Harrington Home, 102 W. Paces Ferry Road in the Buckhead area (huffharrington.com).
Best of the South
Do you have favorite finds from around the South that you give as gifts, buy for your home or rave about to friends? If so, please share them with us. Send your suggestions to: lljerkins@gmail.com. Please include your name and contact number. Also find more Southern-made products, featured in the AJC, at Southernfinds on Facebook or on twitter@southernfinds1.
