In 2023, a Marine Corps veteran proudly started CORKEEZ in Spartanburg, SC with a simple mission; to honor those men and women who have served our country so bravely while providing a purposeful role for those in the community with special abilities that can’t work traditionally.

With humility, CORKEEZ are meant to bring awareness to the real struggles veterans share as they realign to civilian life. That’s why we donate 20% of profits to organizations who’s mission is to help.

Why do we have to wait for Armistice Day (11 November) to honor and symbolize those that sacrificed so much? As the poppy for so many is briefly worn, CORKEEZ are wearable anytime, anywhere, at any occasion.

Some of the most frequent questions we get are:

How big are CORKEEZ? They range in size and differ between men’s and women’s specifically but in general are about 2” in diameter for men’s and 2.75-3” in diameter for women’s. A 50 cent piece is 1.2” in diameter to give you a point of reference.

What is the shell casing about? This is our way of ‘militarizing’ the CORKEE and bringing a bold remembrance to a warrior. The shells are different species, and sometimes they tell a story.

How much does a CORKEE weigh? They aren’t really heavy at all and only weigh an ounce or two, depending on style.

What are they made of? They are primarily made from a special cork fabric. We have experimented with different species of cork and colors, but since our mission is to bring awareness and support to veteran mental health issues, we don’t waiver from our original design.

How are they made? By hand, right here in America. Weird, I know.

How do I wear it properly? That’s up to you, you can really wear it any way you want. Our only ask is that you wear it proudly on the heart side of your chest.

How do I clean my CORKEE? They are not machine washable. If you find that your CORKEE becomes soiled, you can wipe it gently with a damp cloth to remove the debris.

The CORKEEZ Guarantee, seriously? Yep, we stand behind it and believe in it. Part of supporting warriors though is being honest, so we expect that as part of the process. If you don’t get a compliment or mention though during your first three wears in public, then we will stand behind it. If you wear it to the national introverts convention, we will still honor our warranty. When we get your pin back, we will issue a refund.