Weaving a Life
Creative entrepreneurs Erin and Brooks Reitz launch their new clothing brand, Teamwork
BY BETH BROWN ABLES |. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAKE SHORTER
Erin and Brooks Reitz seem to have their hands full. Between the two of them, there are three restaurants, a cocktail company, a clothing line, a popular Substack newsletter with thousands of subscribers, and a growing family. A life brimming over.
Yet, here is a couple who embodies elegant simplicity, ever curating the good things in life, from a well-made shirt to the best kind of peanut butter. And what better place to enjoy the sweetness of simplicity than their home in Charleston, South Carolina, a honeyed jewel of a city, and a media darling for good reason.
We connected with the Reitzes to chat about their home life, their various pursuits, and especially their first-ever collaboration, Teamwork, a line of elevated aprons and uniforms for both the service industry and thoughtful home cook.
Brooks Reitz (right) poses with a model in aprons by Teamwork, his latest creative venture along with his wife, Erin; photograph by Blake Shorter.
Brooks, you’re known first for food and drink (cocktails in particular), helming Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., Leon’s Oyster Shop, Little Jack’s Tavern, and Melfi’s. First off, why does food matter this much to you?
BR: I was raised around the dinner table. We rarely went out to eat because with three boys, my parents couldn’t afford it. Instead, we got to see the importance of home-cooked food, the beauty of being together at the table, and the impact of forming traditions around food. Food nourishes us, gives us energy, and can be a powerful tool to connect with other people. It’s also a unique canvas for creativity, and it provides a nexus from which we can create the world of a restaurant and commune with friends.
During the pandemic months, your Instagram series Brooks Cooks (Erin behind and sometimes in front of the camera, with baby monitor in full view) invited thousands into your home kitchen. Recently, you made the transition to Substack with A Small and Simple Thing. What are you cooking these days?
BR: At home, we are eating less meat and focusing on local produce, whole grains, lots of beans, and good, high-quality breads. Right now, I’m loving the opportunity to share my specific approach to cooking with my readers and quietly collecting the greatest hits in hopes I might share them on a broader stage one day.
Erin, you have a background in clothing design. Tell us about the journey that led you to start E.M Reitz (a line of women’s clothing). How does creativity intersect with your everyday life?
ER: I graduated from college with a degree in business and art (with a focus on sculpture) and moved to NYC looking for jobs in marketing. A chance meeting with the lead designer of a clothing line called Nanette Lepore led to an internship. My career quickly went in a corporate direction designing for companies like Ann Klein, Ann Taylor, Levi’s, and Eddie Bauer. Ten years ago, I left the corporate world and tried my hand at owning my own business, focusing on homewares. Working with Alabama Chanin for the past eight years has kept me inspired and connected to clothing.
During the pandemic, I remembered the reason I loved fashion is that the draping of fabric on a dress form aligns with my first love of sculpture. I retook draping classes and decided it was time to start my own line in order to have a reason to drape and create regularly.
Brooks Reitz (far left) has made a career on good taste, launching three popular Charleston restaurants and Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.; Erin Reitz (right) crafts stunning women’s shirts via her clothing line, E.M Reitz; the Reitzes have launched their first joint venture, Teamwork, which focuses on well-crafted aprons for the home cook and thoughtful uniforms for the service industry; photograph by Blake Shorter.
I’m interested in how collaborative you two are outside your home life, especially with the upcoming launch of Teamwork, your brand of aprons and uniforms for industry professionals and home cooks. Were you collaborating professionally before this?
BR: We’ve never officially collaborated on a project, although we have a very collaborative household. We’re both entrepreneurs, and it’s imperative to be able to bounce ideas off of one another and get feedback during challenging times. Erin had a lot of experience in larger corporate environments before we met, so she really understands the challenges of team-building and leadership in a creative environment. I’ve leaned on her over the years for raw, honest feedback—and she’s helped me hone my own leadership style and language.
ER: While we are both creative, we have very different skill sets. The biggest challenge is turning it off and trying not to talk about any of the businesses as we go to sleep.
Tell us more about Teamwork.
BR: As we launch, we are focusing on aprons. Our sense is that the aprons available to both the home cook and restaurants were missing some elegance, and there were opportunities for improvements to the construction and design. This is where Erin’s skills really came to bear—we reimagined the way an apron is designed to allow for some waist shape and a more comfortable fit.
What began as a personal project with Erin turned into Teamwork, as we understood there was a bigger need for a more elegant and stylish apron, both for restaurants as well as home cooks. We’re focusing on the home cook who is thoughtful about every choice they make—they want the best olive oil, the best pan, the best salt, and the best apron.
What are your favorite pieces in each other’s wardrobes?
eR: Brooks has a few shirts from a Japanese brand called 45RPM. This is one of my all-time favorite brands, but their women’s offering is a bit more feminine than my style. I am constantly wanting to steal these from him.
BR: We have a very similar style, because Erin loves menswear, and most of what she wears is either menswear-adjacent, or it’s actually men’s clothing. My favorite piece in her wardrobe is her Chambray Baker’s Apprentice. It was one of the first shirts she launched with E.M Reitz, and it’s the one she wears the most. It just feels like her, and it’s wearing in beautifully.
Find Teamwork at helloteamwork.co and on Instagram at @go.teamwork.
WHERE IN CHARLESTON . . .
A few of the Reitzes’ favorite experiences in their home city.
to feel like you’re in the wilderness Laurel Hill County Park
to go on a long run downtown to Sullivan’s Island, a 10-mile route
to eat breakfast after a wild night at home
to feel entirely, authentically Southern White Point Garden
to know you’re going to have an excellent meal Chez Nous
to get the best food to cook at home Sea Island Farmers Market and Abundant Seafood
to take the kids Colonial Lake playground
to get away from tourists Hampton Park
to have a great cocktail and snack Leon's or The Ordinary
to find unique home décor Antiques of South Windermere
to find quiet and rest in our backyard