Free Fly Apparel

Our close friends and family, neighbors, and communities here in the South are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton—and will be picking up the pieces for years to come. The town of Burnsville, NC was hit extremely hard by Helene, with record water levels and landslides responsible for a bulk of the damage. Three weeks after the storm, we met up with our friend Kyle Burnette — owner of Free Fly retailer, Southern Drifters Outfitters. Kyle and his close friend, Brian Hill, were amongst the first to assist trapped people, run supplies into inaccessible places, and help with search and rescue efforts. Get to know these local heroes and find out how you can help their community on the road to recovery. Watch the short film and learn more: https://bit.ly/4fOztQX. #freeflyapparel #livefreefly

Free Fly is #hiring a mid-level Merchandise Planner to join our team! Apply today, share with your network, or pass along to anyone you think may be interested ??

We consider ourselves lucky to live in the Lowcountry where we’ve got access to an incredibly unique stretch of coastal wilderness—and it’s our team’s mission to love and protect these waterways. This past July, Free Fly chose to sponsor a one-mile stretch of road in our own backyard, starting at the Ben Sawyer Bridge and ending at the water tower just off Jasper Blvd. on Sullivan’s Island (one of our favorite local beaches). Through the Adopt-A-Highway program, our team will be responsible for five clean-up efforts every year to pick up trash and keep the roadside area clean—eliminating unwanted items from getting into the marsh and waterways. On August 27th, Free Fly spent about 2 hours cleaning up our one-mile stretch of road and filled a total of 19 garbage bags. It was an awesome morning and the team had a blast—despite the August temps!—and we can’t wait to get back out there. Eventually our name, “Free Fly Apparel,” will be posted on an official sign along the road—a fun little nod from everyone here at the brand and a friendly reminder to keep our waters clean, so that you and future generations can keep enjoying them. If you see us donning our neon orange vests on the side of the road next time, give us a holler!

We're thrilled to welcome Captain Benny Blanco as the newest Free Fly Ambassador. “When I was 8 or 9, I was introduced to the Everglades. And my entire life changed. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I didn’t want to do anything else. I loved baseball. I loved school. But I wanted to be in the 'glades.”? With 26 years of guiding under his belt, South Florida-based Benny Blanco knows a thing or two about catching fish—and the attention of our nation’s policy makers. For almost a decade, Benny’s been fighting for conservation efforts in the Everglades, ever since a spike in hypersalinity killed off 50,000 acres of Florida Bay seagrass. ? ? He’s heavily involved with Captains for Clean Water, advocating for water rights in both Florida and D.C. He started guiding in the late ’90s as a Cuban kid from Miami, championing more inclusivity in the guiding space. Today, he’s a proud father of three and hopes to educate the next generation on how to responsibly take care of our outdoor spaces and waterways.? Welcome Benny!

We all have a responsibility to give back to the natural places where we love to play. And at Free Fly, we’re lucky to live in the Lowcountry, where we’ve got access to an incredibly unique stretch of coastal wilderness. When we’re not at work, you can usually find us on the water—poling through flood tides, surfing at Folly, or throwing back oysters on Sullivan’s Island. ? ? So we jumped at the chance to partner with South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources earlier this year, to help restore some of the natural habitats in our neck of the woods. ? ? This February, we joined their community-based oyster restoration program called the South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement Program (or SCORE) at their Fort Johnson site on James Island—where we helped build Manufactured Wire Reefs (MWRs). These reefs help restore and enhance oyster habitats which play a critical ecological and economic role in South Carolina. ? ? Oysters improve water quality, control erosion, and provide habitat for other commercially-important shellfish and fish species, yet oyster populations are on the decline. These MWRs will be planted in tidal creeks, where they will help restore essential fish habitat, stabilize saltmarsh shorelines, and aid in water filtration.? Learn more at: https://score.dnr.sc.gov/

Free Fly Apparel is #hiring! We are actively recruiting for a few positions: Graphic Designer, Staff Accountant, and Merchandise Planner. Come join the Fam!

Alec Lucas (@fish_a_day) grew up casting lines off Folly Beach Pier with his mom, and he got his first taste of fly fishing on Tennessee's South Holston River with his dad. Inspired by his idol, Steve Irwin, Alec’s childhood critter hunts have quickly evolved into epic global fishing pursuits. ? ? As Alec puts it, "Fly fishing is never set in stone, it's never a guarantee. And that's probably the most beautiful thing about it—it's unpredictable, it keeps you wanting more." ? ? For Alec, it's more than a sport. It's a way of life that has given him a family, a home, and friends all around the world. Join us in celebrating the wild, unpredictable, and endlessly challenging world of fly fishing through the travels of @fish_a_day. ? ? Dive deeper into Alec’s story on our?latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/e-qQHRX8 ?? :?@moonwavefilmco

Maggie Slepian recently went on an epic 23-day trip across Europe and brought us along for the journey (in the form of the apparel in her suitcase). Read the full story on New York Magazine. Maggie Slepian, New York Magazine