09/09/2026
I don’t normally make posts like this, but after speaking with other local makers, I feel the need to shed light on a situation that has not sat well with me.
At 8 PM last night, on a holiday evening, I received a phone call regarding my use of the “MC” designs I offer. Since then, I have spoken with other local makers and businesses who also use the MC on school merchandise, and to my knowledge, none of them have been contacted. Because I appear to be the only business being singled out, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to feel like this is a personal attack against me and my business.
After looking into the claims being made about the “MC,” I learned that it is used far beyond one local business. The school itself uses the MC. Other local businesses sell merchandise featuring it. Local hat makers use it. Sales representatives visit the schools, meet with coaches, and provide MC apparel for teams and coaches. Walmart even sells apparel featuring the same MC. There is also a nearby school in Kentucky using the “MC” design in a different shade of blue….
When I started making shirts seven years ago, I saw a need in our community that wasn’t being met. I wanted to give people the opportunity to support their favorite local teams without having to place a large bulk order.
I would never knowingly or blatantly copy another designer’s original work. However, when you are creating apparel for the same school using the same initials, mascot, and school colors, there are only so many ways to skin a cat. Similarities are sometimes unavoidable, but similarity does not automatically mean someone’s design was copied.
There is room for all of us to succeed. Competition is part of business, but singling out and attempting to intimidate or damage another small business - especially one that consistently supports our local kids is super disappointing and unnecessary.
Each year, Rustic Ruffles donates thousands of dollars back to Macon County school programs, teams, and organizations, and I genuinely love being able to do it.
I will continue supporting Macon County, giving back to our local schools and teams, and serving this community with the same heart and dedication I’ve had from the very beginning. I believe in community over competition, but kindness should never be mistaken for weakness. I will always stand up for myself, my business, and everything I have worked hard to build. After all, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything - and I have no intention of backing down when I know I’ve done nothing wrong.
- Hannah ❤️
