Mary Menge and her husband, Radcliff, were practicing attorneys in New York City when they moved back to Alabama to be closer to family. Around the same time, Radcliff had been on the hunt to replace his old field jacket, but couldn’t find anything quite right. So as the two traveled South, they began designing a jacket according to his exact specifications.
Today, the Tensaw Jacket remains the most popular item from Mary and Radcliff’s high-end sportswear brand, Tom Beckbe. Named for Alabama’s Tombigbee River, the brand offers high-quality apparel and gear intended to be passed on for generations.
They now run the Tom Beckbe flagship shop in Mountain Brook, AL, along with locations in Oxford, MS, and Wilson, AR. We spoke with Mary about the wild ride from NYC law to running a Southern-inspired lifestyle brand, her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and more!
First, tell us a little about your background.
I was born and raised in Brewton, Alabama, and spent my childhood summers in Gulf Shores. Radcliff and I moved to Birmingham almost 10 years ago from New York City, where we were practicing attorneys.
I met Radcliff in law school at Washington and Lee University. I never dreamed that a twenty-something aspiring corporate lawyer would eventually design apparel and gear for a brand we created in our living room. Life can take you to unexpected places if you let it!
What was the transition like going from a lawyer to a brand owner?
Before Tom Beckbe, I was a civil litigator for 10 years. After law school, Radcliff and I clerked for federal judges in Alabama, married, and moved to New York in 2009. I practiced complex securities litigation with a firm there until 2013, when Radcliff and I decided to leave New York to move closer to family.
I was offered the opportunity to clerk for Judge Haikala, who had just been appointed to the Northern District of Alabama, which sealed the deal that Birmingham would be our new home. When my clerkship ended, I went back into private practice with Spotswood, Sansom & Sansbury, where I continued to practice securities and general business litigation.
The transition from law to business was gradual for me. We created the brand and first product in 2015, but I didn’t make the leap until 2019, a couple of years after Radcliff moved Tom Beckbe’s operations out of our basement. I wear so many more hats now than I ever did as a lawyer, but I still rely on many of the same skills. Entrepreneurship has been a wild ride, but I have no regrets!
Take us back to the Tensaw Jacket and how it all began.
It’s hard to believe that the Tensaw Jacket will be 10 years old next year! Around the time we were leaving New York for Birmingham, Radcliff wanted to replace a waxed cotton field jacket he had owned since high school. He looked all over New York for a better-fitting, more functional jacket but kept coming up short. Confident that if you can’t find something in New York City, it doesn’t exist, Radcliff worked with a pattern maker to create a prototype with the fit and features he wanted.
He wore it and received so many questions and compliments that we decided to make a small run of them to sell to friends and family. Garden & Gun magazine gave the jacket editorial coverage soon after, and the rest is history! Since then, we’ve expanded into many other categories, but the Tensaw jacket is still our bestselling item and what we’re most known for.
What has that process been — expanding from one jacket to the incredible line you have today?
We are very intentional about new product introductions. The Tensaw is our benchmark product, and any new product we add to our line must rival it in functionality, quality, and style. We are fortunate to have really engaged customers who tell us what they’d like to see from us, and this greatly informs product design and development.
Elevated sportsman’s apparel is a unique market! How have outdoorsmen embraced Tom Beckbe?
When we founded Tom Beckbe we felt like no brand in the premium space was truly catering to the Southern sportsman in terms of climate and lifestyle. Sportsmen tend to be attracted to highly functional products made from traditional, quality materials.
They still want to look good, of course, but they’re not overly concerned with fashion and tend to eschew trends. They also want products that last (at least) a lifetime. The modern sportsman wants versatility as well, so an item that works in town as well as in the field is a plus.
Tell us about the women’s line. Any new products on the horizon?
Most of our products are unisex (bags, field gear, hats, and accessories), but every time we introduce a new men’s apparel item, our women customers want to know when they can expect one in their size. Our women’s collection includes waxed and quilted outerwear, and we will be introducing a line of field shirts this fall. It’s very important to us that we provide our women customers with all of the same functionality and durability that the men have come to expect from us.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I enjoy hanging out with my two boys, ages 8 and 3. They’re excellent company.
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
“Gardening” with my 3-year-old, which mostly involves digging in the dirt for bugs and spraying mom with the hose. I’m also perfecting my crêpe recipe with the help of my 8-year-old. We just returned from Paris, his first international trip, which was a dream.
What is your best piece of advice?
For aspiring entrepreneurs, you don’t have to figure everything out all at once. Be curious and just start. There is a lot of noise around any new business, but making a product people want is essential. Remember that your product is your business, so consistently prioritize making the best product you possibly can, and you’ll be able to figure out the rest.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
The Crestline Pig, podcasts, and my Blakeley jacket
Lightning Round!
Last delicious meal: Choripan, a house-made Argentinian chorizo, at Ovenbird.
Favorite place to vacation: Wherever the grandparents are! Especially Cashiers, NC, and Gulf Coast beaches.
Your go-to gift to give: A Tom Beckbe utility bag for new dads. And a well-stocked whiskey tote is always a good idea.
Book(s) on your bedside table: Walks in Hemingway’s Paris (research for a recent trip!)
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