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A PILGRIMAGE OF SPORTING PERFECTION
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Sportsman Marc Williams takes in the sights and sounds of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. BY MARC WILLIAMS | PHOTOS BY Paul Mulkey Images PROVIDED BY SEWE
Every President’s Day weekend since the inaugural event in 1983, a congregation of the sporting faithful have amassed in Charleston for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. They flood this historic Southern city to bare witness to the muster of artists, artisans, outfitters and experts all dedicated to spreading the gospel of the sporting life. The annual trip, 33-years running for some, is akin to a pilgrimage. One could write a lofty and pithy sermon about the comparison to the travels of the faithful to places like the Hajj, or to the annual migration of waterfowl along the flyways. The quality of the vendors, soirees, and events are worthy of such a written testament. SEWE is a collection of well-sewn waxed cotton and
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tweed, abundant with hats rimmed with the iridescent coloring of pheasant feathers. These are the hallmarks of an event, which to some including this author, is the highlight of the year. As a proprietor of a sporting-oriented company, we display our goods, chat and mingle with new folks just like the other vendors who fill the myriad of venues ranging from edge to edge of the city’s borders. From the black tie galas to the oyster roasts, there is no shortage of opportunity for long-time friends to reconvene in one of the South’s most apt settings. But the air of the event is more than just the interaction of purveyor and consumer, it’s an opportunity for the senses. It’s the materialization of a passion a community of