Today on Mama Finds we feature The Rope Co owners, Logan and Hannah Rackliff, who grew up immersed in lobstermen traditions—from boat building to sea faring. Logan’s great-great-grandfather was a steamboat captain and a seaman all his life. Four generations followed in his footsteps, creating an epic saga of savvy lobstermen spanning 5 generations. After college, Logan returned to the career he knew best—lobstering. Though Logan loved being on the water and chasing lobsters, he always knew that his family wanted to try their hand at something different, and he wanted to start a business like the generations before him. Logan and his wife Hannah began making rope mats in the winter of 2013. Since then, the company’s catalog has expanded to feature products designed by Hannah and inspired by the Downeast and coastal Maine culture their families have been enveloped in for years.
“I come from a family of inventors and entrepreneurs, we never stop creating and working. I also have had the privilege to grow up in one of the most beautiful places in the world, mid-coast Maine, the vacationland, a place filled with so much inspiration. I am a 5th generation lobsterman and a 4th generation rope manufacturer. My great, great grandfather was a captain of a steamboat that transported mail up and down the coast of Maine, he was also a lobsterman, and he built and ran two fishing weirs. His son, my great grandfather, was a lobsterman his entire life. He was offered a job by GE when he was in school but he stayed at home to take care of his family and live off the land. My grandfather and father continued the family tradition of lobstering and so have I.” -Logan, The Rope Co
“The rope manufacturing is on my mom’s side of the family. My grandfather moved his rope manufacturing mill to Maine in 1968, he occupied the space that was once a woolen mill, built in 1886. He built many of the machines that make the rope. He also invented the first hydraulic lobster trap hauling device, a turning point for all lobstermen and something still used today. So much of my inspiration comes from the way my family has always had the will to survive, and survive on their own. They were not scared to try new things, to start companies, to invent. That is why I needed to start a company of my own, too. As far as what we make, that inspiration comes from my surroundings, Maine. It made sense to go into a business that included rope, because I can get my materials from my family, and I know where they come from. I am the first in my family to bring products into the home. What we make is durable, the rope we use is the same rope Maine lobstermen use, it’s tough. Our doormats are built to last forever, but what makes them even more special is the story behind them and the touch of Maine and the ocean that they will bring the entrance of a home.” -Logan, The Rope Co
“We offer a lifetime guarantee on all our doormats and that is where my passion comes from. It is not about throwing a few things out there for people to buy. My passion comes from making a product that will last, making a product with a great American story behind it and making something people will like and feel good about buying.” -Logan, The Rope Co
Storage bins
“One of my favorite pieces is our light gray and yellow storage bin. It is from our Sand Island Collection, a lobster buoy inspired collection. My wife, Hannah, came up with this one. She also has a rich Maine history, and comes from a long line of ship captains, lobstermen and boat builders. She had 100 lobster traps in high school and she wanted her buoy color to be gray with a yellow stripe. Her father said that color was already taken by another lobsterman in town so pick another color. Anyway, gray and yellow has always been her ideal lobster buoy color so this is where the bin came from. So far, it has been well liked, and even featured in Architectural Digest. I thought it would be too bright, but she reassured me, people love a “pop of color.” (lobstermen use bright colors on their buoys so they can find them in the fog)” -Logan, The Rope Co
Doormats
Another favorite piece of mine is our brown and dark gray double weave doormat. The colors of this doormat are perfect for a house on the ocean with weathered cedar shingles, and that is my ideal home. The colors are neutral, yet so rich.
Placemats
“I also have a new favorite, the placemat. Our customers have asked for a tabletop item. I was very happy to introduce our placemat this year because it is what our customers asked for, it feels really nice to be able to produce what people want. We want to listen to our customers and that is what we have done with this product. I worked hard to make our rope smaller so it would look appropriate on the tabletop. I worked long days at the rope mill by myself to get the rope size where I wanted it. To start, we have chosen very classic nautical colors for this product, navy and tan. It lies heavy and flat on the table and the grooves in the weave even hold the flatware in place.” -Logan, The Rope Co
To order go to http://www.theropeco.com and use code MAMAFINDS to get 15% off for the next 3 weeks.
Also follow them on Instagram to see when new products are in stock: @theropecompany
mama finds 
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