Meet Brandon Franklin | Hat and Accessories Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandon Franklin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandon, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking has played a huge roll in my life creatively and professionally. I believe taking risks means betting on yourself. When you bet on yourself you have no one to really depend on except for the work, research and grind that you yourself have put in. Recently I took a big risk relocating my life and my business to Atlanta, Georgia from New York City in middle of the pandemic shutdown. There were definitely a lot of moving parts that went into making the move and decision to uproot my life and take a chance in a city I had never really spent time in. Most of all it was the faith I had in myself and the specific niche/craft in which I specialize. We’ve been here for a little over a year now and its been hard work but we are thriving and grew exponentially.

Prior to me taking the risk of relocating was another risk in simply starting my business. I worked for one of the oldest hat-makers in the country and after 5 years decided to leave and start my own brand and business from scratch. It was the largest risks i’ve taken in my life and also one of the most rewarding. Risk taking has been a huge part of my life and so far one of the catalysts of my success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I founded B.M. Franklin & Co. after falling in love with the craftsmanship within the fashion and accessories industry. In a world where mass production has taken over the economy there seems to be a very small corner for special, high-quality items that are carefully crafted by hand. Its a slow burn when it comes to scaling a business and a craft like mine because the craft and brand are rooted in education and tradition. Nowadays the concept of education and tradition have been slowly dwindling away, especially in the retail sector. I got to where I am today by exacting a ton of patience and quire frankly just not giving up on my dream and passion. Ive learned a ton of lessons along the way but nothing more important than to just “keep going”. As I stated, education is a key component of what I do and if your mind isn’t always prepared to learn you will not grow, therefore you will not be able to “keep going”.

Our creative mindset is not to re-invent the wheel; but to add expression and creativity through the pieces we produce. B.M. Franklin fuses classic silhouettes and modern aesthetics to craft pieces reflecting the individuality and personality of the wearer.

Our classically trained artisans work with luxurious fur-felts and hand-woven straws sourced from around the world. while our creative philosophy is to maintain traditional crafting techniques paired with innovative design.

We like to say that the creative possibilities are limitless at B.M. Franklin & Co. Through the cultivation of these processes, we create heirloom-quality pieces without sacrificing inspiration or individuality.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta is amazing. It has so much to offer, from the scenery and topography to the history and culture. Id start by linking at my shop in Buckhead Village then head to midtown where a friend of mine lives in a historic building not far from piedmont park and the botanical gardens. The gardens are one of my favorite place to visit because of the serene setup and pops of color and texture. It really helps with my creative reset when i’m feeling a bit spent to cruise around with friends in the sun surrounded by beautiful nature. Inman park is another fun place mainly because of the short drag of restaurants there. It has such a cool pop of culture, from families to groups of friends most of the places such as Barcelona bar offer the ambiance and energy I love. While in the part of town id swing by the MLK museum and absorb some inspiration and motivation. Sometimes looking back in history and reminding ourselves what our ancestors and the people before us went through so that we can enjoy the pleasures in life that we’ve been afforded.

Lastly, getting up to nature and going on a mini hike is food for the soul. My favorite place to hike (outside the Botanical gardens) is the Chattahoochee Preserve.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Id like to dedicate my shoutout to all of our clients, friends and family who have supported this journey from 2014 to now. From showing up to support at pop-up shop and demonstration events to commissioning their one-of-a-kind pieces. The BMFCo family has held us down through thick and thin.

Website: www.bmfranklinco.com

Instagram: @bmfranklinco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmfranklinco/