Craig Conover just launched an exciting new business venture, and he had some help from across the Bravoverse to celebrate the milestone.
It was South meets Midwest when the Missouri-based family from The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys joined the Southern Charm-er for the release of Craig’s first-ever fabric collection, The Coastal Collection, an offshoot of his already successful lifestyle brand, Sewing Down South. The Charleston-based entrepreneur ushered in the line under a new brand company, Sewing Down South Textiles, launching the collection at the Missouri Star Quilt Company’s Birthday Bash on Sept. 19.
There to partake in the festivities in Hamilton, Missouri — colloquially known as “Quilt Town, USA” — was Steven McBee Sr., Steven McBee Jr., Brayden McBee, and Cole McBee with partner Kacie Adkison, all the way from their Gallatin farm. As Craig proudly announced on his IG Stories, “The McBees came!”
Neither Jesse McBee nor Galyna Saltkovska was in Craig’s group photo, though both appeared on Steven Jr.’s IG Stories from the event. Salley Carson was also there, the SC cast member’s IG Stories showed.
What is Craig Conover’s new business?
The Coastal Collection is a line of fabrics with coastal-themed prints, a collaboration between Craig and wholesaler Robert Kaufman Fabrics.
The fabrics blend Craig’s “fresh eye for style with timeless blue-and-white designs inspired by breezy coastal living,” many of which are available to buy now on the brand’s website. What’s more, Craig’s recent move marks his “first official step into the world of sewing, quilting, and textiles,” seamlessly extending his established brand “into the creative maker community,” according to a press release.
The announcement comes after the pillow designer teased a shift in his career at DIRECTV’s Plot Twist – Featuring Bravo event in New York City on August 12. Explained Craig, “It was fun to get into the crafting space. We launched a fabric line, which will be available to everyone soon … Getting into the quilting and creating world has been exciting.”
Added Craig, “I’m about to start tutorials and I’ve got a garden line, so I’m just trying to stay busy.”
How Craig Conover and the McBee family met
The (quilting) stars aligned at the annual event in Missouri when the farm-and-ranching family delivered on a meet-and-greet, a crossover with Craig’s new Sewing Down South Textiles pop-up store.
McBee Farm & Cattle’s headquarters are located only 10 minutes from the event, though about four hours south of Gallatin, according to the family business’s website. There, they sold farm-raised meats and snacks at their merch booth, though no word yet on their slingin’ snack sticks.
The family said they looked forward to meeting fans while “connecting with the community and just soaking in the energy of this celebration.” For his part, Craig said launching his fabric collection in Hamilton was “an incredible honor.”
What to know about Craig Conover’s businesses
The Coastal Collection is only the latest of Craig’s mounting successes and comes just days after the separate announcements of two new career moves: The launch of his own reality TV production company and his joining SC’s Madison LeCroy as a guest judge on Top Chef’s Season 23.
But the sky’s the limit for Craig, because, on July 29, he and Austen Kroll announced The Waverly, an all-in-one Charleston-based wedding venue. The Pillows and Beer podcast hosts also count themselves owners of the local By the Way restaurant and have a stake in New York City’s Carriage House.
Don’t miss Craig and Austen’s recent Las Vegas getaway with VPR’s Tom Schwartz.
