John Rich, of Oakleaf & Acorn, credits his background in carpentry and hand printing for his workingman’s aesthetic and love of old-fashioned manufacturing.
Scent: D.S. & Durga Burning Barbershop. It tells a story—this shop burned. It’s got a smoky smell.
Bike: Brothers Rich bikes have vintage frames. Coaster brakes. No fenders. It’s an homage to the racing bikes of the twenties and thirties.
Go-to look: Chambray shirt, L.C. King Pointer Brand chore coat, khakis, Red Wing Pecos slip-ons. I’ve been wearing the boots forever.
Spare time: I turkey hunt. When I went looking for a handmade turkey call, I found a local guy who makes these great duck calls [Lonesome Pine Game Calls]. He has a heating and air-conditioning company.
Snack: Mayhaw jelly from Stripling’s, down in Cordele. My son will eat it with a spoon.
Drink: Bulleit Bourbon and a splash of Coke. Not too fancy.
Listening to: We were playing the Avett Brothers when you came in. I love the Head and the Heart. And Brother Hawk—they’re from Atlanta.
Collecting: Face jugs by the Fergusons from Gillsville. They’ve been doing this for generations. This is where you put your moonshine. And the kids knew not to touch it. People either love ’em or they hate ’em, because the point is to be scary and hideous.
Grooming secret: This Shiner Gold pomade is pretty cool.
Fave find: Marvin Poole knives. Mr. Poole lives right up the road. He’s seventy-seven. These are handmade from scratch.
John Rich stocks his online men’s shop, Oakleaf & Acorn, with hand-stitched leather, artisan hunting tools, and sundries like beard pomade, jiggers, and handkerchiefs. An early adopter of refined Southern lines like Otis James ties and Raleigh Denim, Rich credits his background in carpentry and hand printing for his workingman’s aesthetic and love of old-fashioned manufacturing. Recently, he and his brothers produced a bicycle labeled Brothers Rich. Next up? Beaded goods patterned like indigenous snakes. He shared some of his treasures with us at his family’s Hoschton home.
This story originally appeared in our January 2014 issue.
