Sea Island: Spartina 449 Special

By: Allie Mitchell
Sea Island Ambassador

As a young and impressionable child, Kay Stanley looked at her mother’s career as a watercolorist for inspiration. She wanted to do “art all day long” but her mother advised young Stanley to blend her love of art with the knowledge of running a business. This combination of skill and passion led Stanley to produce Spartina 449—a brand organic in its art form.

At the Women in Philanthropy Leadership Conference earlier this month in Myrtle Beach, I listened to Stanley speak about style and tell the story of how Spartina 449 came to fruition. The muse for Spartina 449 comes from Daufuskie Island—located next to Hilton Head Island—a haven only accessible by watercraft. Wouldn’t it be grand if your driveway was a waterway and your transportation was a boat? Sounds like a dream location and her art and clothes represent this as well.

Stanley jingles with charms and radiates colorful patterns when she enters a room. As a Kansas native and current resident of South Carolina, she has learned to draw inspiration from wherever she resides. A few of the pieces of advice she offered the audience at the WIPL conference include:

– There is opportunity everywhere — you just have to look for it.
– Be humble.
– Be okay with the ‘not knowing’ part of business.
– Find a passion that can earn money and always be eager to learn a new skill.

Sea Island Trading Co. offers a wide selection of Spartina 449 jewelry pieces, handbags, wallets, and several other gift items. Below are a few of my must-haves from the Songbird Pattern that just arrived and are sure to bring some color to your spring:

Island Tote:

Clutch Crossbody

Boho Maci Wristlet:

449 Wallet:

What patterns are next?
– The Moreland Pattern
– The Wilson Pattern

Stanley’s Spartina 449 brand is an organic art form and that’s exactly how Sea Island views individual style. They help every customer feel like a complete work of art upon leaving their store. This is a similar feeling I receive when I invest in a new pair of shoes, coat, hat, accessory, or another style-complementing item. Will you complement your style with Spartina 449’s new Spring 2020 Collection?