Draper James—Reese Witherspoon’s line of home decor, accessories, and printed frocks, which launched last spring—has a distinct Southern vibe. But the brand looks to the region for more than just inspiration. Case in point: The Tootsie skinny jeans, denim jackets, and pencil skirts are produced by two companies in North Georgia. “There is a signature, timeless style inherent to the American South,” says CEO Andrea Hyde. “And we’re proud to work with Southern companies to honor that style in an authentic way.” We’d say that’s good enough to call them local.
Georgia jeans
Denim production starts at Blue Ridge–based A&S Clothing Inc. Constructing just one pair of jeans requires 42 steps, from cutting the fabric to inspection. (Jacket pictured, $195)
Witherspoon visited Blue Ridge in June to thank its 45 employees. Next, the denim travels to Joro Inc. in Winder, where it’s prewashed and finished.
Jeans come in a dark “river rinse,” a faded “Blue Ridge rinse,” black, and white. (Jeans pictured, $148)
This article originally appeared in our November 2015 issue.