I wear bow ties for formal black tie events but have to confess that, until I heard from Helen, who founded Blue Eyes Bow Ties, I'd never worn a bow tie for day wear. She kindly sent me a black tie and a silk Paisley tie to try.
I rather enjoyed the experience of wearing the Paisley tie. With the decline in popularity of the neck tie I feel that men have left themselves with a gap between shirt collar and neck that cries out to be filled. I still wear neckties, but for those who don't, the feeling that something is missing when we wear an open neck shirt in anything other than casual attire does present a problem. That gap can be filled with a cravat, bandana, silk scarf or, now for me having tried one, a bow tie. If you are keen to learn how to tie a bow, my next post here on the blog will be an instructional video I made with Chester Barrie some years ago - see below.
I spoke to Helen King of Blue Eyes Bow Ties (link below) to seek her take on the bow tie:
GF: Please introduce yourself and your brand.
HK: My name is Helen and I’m the founder and owner of Blue Eyes Bow Ties, a limited edition bow tie company that specialises in handmade, unique and funky men’s accessories.
GF: How did you come to be making bow ties?
HK: I founded Blue Eyes Bow Ties in 2016 during a particularly difficult period of my life. Returning to sewing, a hobby I’d had since childhood, offered a fantastic escape, and became my passion very quickly. My husband inspired the move into bow ties and men’s accessories. I’d made him a waistcoat, as a thank you for the beautiful engagement ring he’d just given me. He suggested I make a matching bow tie, so I did, and it snowballed from there! I’ve never looked back, and Blue Eyes Bow Ties has gone from strength to strength.
GF: How popular are bow ties at the moment?
HK: Bow ties are more popular than ever right now. With Covid restricting everyone’s movements and putting a stop to social events for pretty much two years, it’s as though everyone wants a bow tie to go out and celebrate in! Now that people are partying and attending events, they want a smart or funky bow tie to wear. Wedding bow ties are also on the increase with more and more grooms choosing to wear one on their special day. I get a lot of requests for bespoke tailored designs for grooms and their groomsmen as well as the father of the bride and page boys (and canine ring-bearers!).
GF: Which are your most popular types/designs?
HK: People come to Blue Eyes Bow Ties for one of two things. They either want a beautiful traditional bow tie or they want something funky, colourful and unique. One of my most popular designs is a traditional Black Silk Dupion self-tie bow tie. It’s a timeless classic and a staple of any gentleman's wardrobe. On the opposite end of the spectrum, my all-time best seller is a pre-tied black velvet bow tie encrusted with glittering crystals; it certainly makes a bold statement. What I’ve learnt over the last 6 years is that there’s no such thing as ‘too bold’ and people’s tastes are incredibly eclectic. What might be over the top for one person is perfect for another. That’s why I’ve worked particularly hard to develop a range of over 250 designs which includes something for everyone.
GF: Please tell us about the ties, their designs and the materials you use.
HK: All of my bow ties are made using natural fibres, including 100% cotton, silk or velvet. I don’t use man-made materials as I want my products to be as luxurious as possible and I don’t really think anyone should be caught wearing a polyester bow tie! I particularly love to use Liberty of London cotton prints as their designs are so bold and unusual. Pure Dupion silk is also a delight to work with and makes beautifully shaped bow ties. I make both self-tie and pre-tied bow ties, so there’s something to suit both confident bow tie wearers and beginners. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including the standard butterfly, diamond point or a narrow ‘bat’, to name but three. If you can think it, I can probably make it.
GF: You've had some great support in building your business - where do you see it going over the next few years?
HK: Very early on in my bow tie business I was lucky enough to win the Theo Paphitis #SmallBusinessSunday award. I also had one of my bow ties worn by the 13th Doctor Who in 2020. Both were fantastic opportunities for making connections, gaining attention and giving credibility to my brand.
As of December 2021 Blue Eyes Bow Ties went from my side hustle to my full time business and I envisage great things to come now that I can plough my full time and attention into developing my products and my brand. Getting out in the public consciousness is something I’m working hard on, and I can only see things getting bigger and better over the next few years.
GF: Many thanks Helen and very best wishes for the future of your business.
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