About First In Upholstery & Apparel
Marine upholstery and custom apparel in the Charleston Lowcountry
Built on the Water
First In Upholstery was born from a lifetime on the water. Owner Daniel White grew up boating the rivers, creeks, and coastal waters of the South Carolina Lowcountry — over 20 years of firsthand experience with the sun, salt, and weather that take a toll on marine interiors.
After years of working on his own boats, Daniel saw how difficult it was to find quality upholstery work at a fair price. What started as repairing his own boat cushions grew into a passion for the craft — and eventually into a business serving fellow boaters throughout the Charleston area.
Daniel White
Owner & Operator
- 20+ years boating the Lowcountry
- Based in Summerville, SC
- Marine upholstery & custom apparel
- Former emergency services professional
From Emergency Services to Upholstery
Before starting First In Upholstery, Daniel built a career in emergency services — a field that demands investigation skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work methodically under pressure. Those same qualities carry directly into upholstery work: diagnosing problems, planning solutions, and executing with precision.
Every project starts with understanding the problem. Whether it's a boat seat that's taken years of UV damage or a set of company uniforms that need to represent your brand, the approach is the same — evaluate what's needed, plan the work, and deliver results you can count on.
What We Do
Marine Upholstery
Custom boat cushions, vinyl repair, seat restorations, and full interior remodels. We understand what Lowcountry conditions — salt air, intense sun, and humidity — do to marine interiors, because we've lived it on our own boats.
View Upholstery ServicesCustom Apparel
Embroidery, DTF transfers, vinyl heat press, and custom uniforms for businesses, teams, and events. From a single embroidered hat to a full company uniform program — no order is too small or too large.
View Apparel ServicesWhy First In?
Quality Over Speed
Every project gets the time and attention it deserves. We don't cut corners to rush a job out the door.
Transparent Pricing
No hidden fees or surprise charges. We quote what the work will cost and stick to it.
Local & Personal
You work directly with the owner. No sales reps, no middlemen — just straightforward communication.
One-Stop Shop
The only local provider combining marine upholstery with custom apparel. Get your boat and crew looking sharp in one place.
Serving the Charleston Lowcountry
First In Upholstery & Apparel is based in Summerville, SC and serves the greater Charleston area. We provide mobile upholstery services — coming to your boat at the dock, marina, or driveway — and handle custom apparel orders by appointment.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you need marine upholstery or custom apparel, we're here to help.
Jake and Jess Maranto
2 months ago"Beyond happy with our purchase! He created my husband's wish. My husband has been looking for a hat that showed his service to each he served. The vision was successfully created! Daniel communicated consistently on the process and was professional. Thank you for making a veteran very happy!"
Justin Salsman
4 months ago"I'm extremely happy with my new seat cushions! I was missing the cushion to my lean post chair and had three other cushions in rough shape. You don't realize how much bad seat cushions affect the overall look of your boat until you get new ones. After installing the new cushions, it looked like a whole different boat. The price was also very reasonable. I'll definitely be using this company again in the future!"
Amanda Howle
10 months ago"Daniel was quick to respond and easy to communicate with throughout the process. He was honest and exceeded my expectations. I will call him with any future needs and send others his way as well. Check out this before and after! It matches the others so well it looks like a new boat!"
Ellie Brown
11 months ago"Great experience with Daniel at First In! Needed a rush order of a few hats and he was able to get me in when no one else was free for a few weeks. Logo turned out exactly like we hoped and he was very professional, friendly, and prompt. Looking forward to using this company for all our custom apparels moving forward!"
Keith Dell
5 months ago"David is quick to respond, get your order done, and is super transparent! Will be working with him for all of my company marketing!"
Have you worked with us? We'd love to hear from you!
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