For generations, the South has been home to some of the country’s most remarkable makers and craftsmen. With pride poured into every project, these talented individuals have served as the heart and soul of well-known and well-loved brands that stand the test of time. In a generation where conservation is critical, the Conservation Through Craftsmanship Coalition has created something inspired to carry these brands’ principles, values, and practices forward into the future. 

We had the opportunity to speak with the driving forces behind CCC, Joe Julian of Julian & Sons and Russell Moccasin, and Luke Kolbie of Kingfisher Leatherworks and Russell Moccasin. For both Julian and Kolbie, their careers have been a testament to the beauty and community that is cultivated through legacy brands. 

Julian & Sons is a generational family business that began in 1985 when Joe’s father, Tom, chose to pursue his deep passion for

woodworking. Over the course of decades, Julian & Sons has become well-established and is best known for their expertly crafted fine gun rooms. “His dream was to have his four sons work with him, and all of us work together with our hands. Fast forward 40 years later, we have a company that designs and builds gun rooms, trophy rooms, and really high-end specialty places…,” shares Julian.

Kolbie’s entrepreneurial journey began with Kingfisher Leatherworks, which he founded during his time in college. “As a young sportsman, Kingfisher’s founder Luke spent hours observing wildlife on hunts, hikes and fishing trips. One of his favorite sights  was an American Belted Kingfisher, cackling over a creek on its hunt for prey…When Luke took up leatherwork to create gear for his sporting pursuits, the elegance embodied by the Kingfisher guided his designs, becoming the company’s namesake.” the brand illustrates. Combining this initial inspiration with dedication to his vision, Kolbie developed a line of high-quality construction-first products that have drawn praise from sportsmen, luxury shoppers, and conservationists alike. 

Founded in 1898, Russell Moccasin is a brand that needs no introduction. Julian and Kolbie have both carried a fondness since their early years. Kolbie describes Russell Moccasin as quintessential to Southern sporting life growing up in Georgia. “Being from Southwest Georgia—Thomasville—that is probably the most Russell wearers per capita anywhere in the world,” he jests. Julian and Kolbie have moved into the roles of President and CEO, respectively, to continue the brand’s legacy.

For Julian and Kolbie, there is one throughline that connects all three brands: conservation through craftsmanship. This concept goes beyond an appreciation for the time, effort, and expertise required to create such well-constructed and long-lasting pieces. It speaks to the conservation of materials, but also time expenditure. Every hour poured into the creation of these items will be honored by many years of use, and ideally, these items will be mended and continue to live on outside of a landfill. 

The Conservation Through Craftmanship Coalition is a community of brands—and the craftsmen behind them—that invite buyers to reimagine the way they interact with the items they buy by prioritizing proactive conservation. “The goal is ultimately supporting companies that are facilitating proactive conservation. So when we talk about conservation through craftsmanship, the goal of the whole ethos and principles behind conservation through craftsmanship is to create proactive conservation,” shares Kolbie.

While traditional conservation is often associated with revitalization efforts, proactive conservation seeks to pinpoint and eliminate the problem before downstream effects can take hold.  “Proactive conservation is the things that we’re doing in advance of any problem being created in anticipation that those will arise down the road,” Kolbie explains. 

The way in which this applies to the products we buy is simple. “When you create products that are designed for disposal, there’s a disposal cost to society when that product gets thrown away,” he shares. “So, what we look at a lot is the more labor, the more energy, and the more materials that go into a product, the greater the waste when that is disposed of.”

For businesses with the CCC seal, Kolbie shares, “It’s a shared reputation and it’s a shared set of values and principles that when you’re doing business with a CCC company, you understand that they’re investing in their craftsmen, they’re investing in ensuring that their products are sustainable in a true sense.”

The duo warns that once an individual purchases from the legacy brands of the Conservation Through Craftmanship Coalition, it is difficult to return to a typical shopping experience. “Joe and I often talk about when you experience a pair of Russell boots, when you experience a Kingfisher product, or a Julian & Sons product… it’s one of those things where you’re ruined because you can’t ever see anything else.” 

As the first words on the CCC site warn, prepare to be ruined.

Join CCC at their 2nd Annual Sporting Clays Invitational by registering here.

Learn more about the Conservation Through Craftsmanship Coalition here.