Bradley Rhyne ’07 and Filipe Ho ’07

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University alumni Bradley Rhyne ’07 and Filipe Ho ’07, co-founders of Charlotte-based menswear line OLE MASON JAR, were recently recognized by Garden and Gun magazine in the publication’s ninth annual Made in the South Awards (MITSA).

A sport coat designed by the pair — featuring “trim lines and an emphasis on tradition,” the Garden and Gun release said — won an MITSA in the Style category.

Rhyne, CEO of OLE MASON JAR, holds dual B.S.B.A. degrees in finance and banking and risk management and insurance from Appalachian. Ho, chief operating officer (COO) and creative director of OLE MASON JAR, holds a Bachelor of Science in communication, public relations. The two were college roommates at Appalachian.

Garden and Gun’s Made in the South awards are designed to celebrate and encourage Southern craftspersons, and to recognize the best available products made in the South. The awards are conferred for product entries in the following six categories: Food, Drink, Style, Outdoors, Home and Crafts. An overall winner selected from the six category winners will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Of the sport coat design, Rhyne said, “We wanted versatility and comfort and an extra attention to the subtle details — something you won’t find at J. Crew.”

In its new release, Garden and Gun said, “With an acute awareness for the economic void left behind in North Carolina after the bulk of the textile business fled overseas, the jacket is handmade in-state by second- and third-generation sewers. Tailored somewhere between a trendy trim fit and a traditional full cut, the lightweight unstructured jacket flatters most body types and is made of a soft Italian wool in multi-blue plaid.”

“It is so powerful to see brands (such as OLE MASON JAR) bringing life back to the Southern textile industry,” said Stacy Smallwood, the Style category judge for MITSA. Smallwood is a professional stylist and the owner of Hampden, a high-end women’s clothing store in Charleston, South Carolina.

The weekend of Nov. 9–11, Garden and Gun, along with its partner, Volvo Car USA, will host a “Made in the South Weekend” in Charlotte to recognize the 2018 winners. OLE MASON JAR and the other 23 MITSA winners and runners-up will showcase their recognized products at a Made in the South Marketplace on Saturday, Nov. 10.

The December 2018/January 2019 issue of Garden and Gun magazine, which features the 2018 MITSA winners, will be available on newsstands Nov. 20.

About the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance

The Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance develops leaders for business, government and education by offering a Bachelor of Science in business administration in two specializations: finance and banking, and risk management and insurance. Learn more at https://finance.appstate.edu.

About the Walker College of Business

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling approximately 3,000 undergraduates in 10 majors and 175 graduate students in three master's programs, the Walker College is accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About the Department of Communication

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Communication at Appalachian State University focuses on preparing students to succeed in the varied fields within the communication industry. The department offers five majors – advertising, communication studies, electronic media/broadcasting, journalism and public relations – and a minor in communication studies. Graduates work in a wide range of positions in media, corporate, agency, government and nonprofit organizations. Learn more at https://communication.appstate.edu.

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts

Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://faa.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, Appalachian enrolls more than 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.