Hailing from the waterside Lowcountry, I spent much of my formative years crawling around in the marsh, building forts out of saw palmettos and whatever marine detritus we could find—untethered dock floatation, random decking boards, and all sorts of fishing-related buoyant objects tangled in the thick marsh grass. We styled our pluff mud retreats like true mariners.

I have logged countless hours running the beaches of the Lowcountry, and it always brings me to a place of calm and invincibility. With nothing but my legs and running shoes between me and the terroir of this lowland topography, I feel a deep connection to the land—imbued with ancestral heritage, for better or worse.

With the freedom of a Sunfish sailboat, my sister and I were able to fully embrace our surroundings. Jaunts to tiny barrier islands, now bird estuaries, felt as familiar as the saltwater itself. Whether returning in my grandfather’s army-green johnboat—its metal seats so hot it was impossible to sit without some kind of cushion—or occasionally ramming the floating dock with the bow of the “Beanie Weenie” (as my sister’s neighborhood friends had dubbed it, thanks to letters from Coleman’s Hardware in the Old Village of Mt. Pleasant), the marshes were always a world of discovery. Pilings, covered in oysters and barnacles, were a constant reminder to stay cautious—one wrong move and you would ruin more than just a good day on the water.

Oysters have long been a cornerstone of Lowcountry culture and economy. Originally harvested by enslaved Africans, who never reaped the benefits of their labor, these miraculous bivalves continue to thrive in the region. As demand grows, sustainable farmers have begun seeding existing oyster beds and creating artificial substrates—not only to keep up with demand, but to help restore the ecological balance of our waterways.

The oyster bracelet serves as a symbol of the beauty, history, and hardship of the Lowcountry, no matter where you are. It is like a muse, quietly calling you back to this unique and storied place, carrying with it the essence of everything that defines it.