Collections

Our Process

Our handmade bow ties are cut, sewn, packaged and shipped out of our workshop in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The Hanauer family is closely involved in every step of the process and father and son team Randy and Randall Hanauer hand-select the silk, cotton, linen, and wool fabrics for each collection of bow ties. English wool and Italian silk from renowned international mills can be found in many of our bow tie collections.

Handmade Bow Ties

We have a talented group of artists and creators in our Fort Mill workshop who hand make-to-order each bow tie. Once an order is placed, we begin on the cutting table where the bow tie fabric is cut on a bias to give the famous R. Hanauer stretch. Although the bias cut yields less product from each yard of fabric, it makes our bow ties much more flexible and durable for many years of tying and wear. Once the fabric is cut, it is passed to one of our talented seamstresses to be artfully sewn (including a bias-cut lining to preserve shape over time). After our seamstress individually sews each bow tie they are ready to be placed in our signature black box. Next step? The handmade bow tie is shipped out to you for years of gentlemanly enjoyment.

Our Dedication to American Made Bow Ties

Although many opt to manufacture their bow ties overseas, we believe in making our bow ties at home. Most of the tags on popular neckwear brands will not say "made in  America." American made products are becoming more of a rarity and there is a growing difference between mass-manufactured products and our handmade, high quality bow ties. We are dedicated to creating American made bow ties and are dedicated to preserving quality over making a profit.

When Should You Wear a Bow Tie?

Bow ties are suitable for numerous occasions. Our formal bow ties have been selected for formal evening and black tie events. If an invitation states black tie optional, we always opt-in to wearing a tuxedo and cummerbund set. If an event is declared "white tie," it is best to wear the traditional white cotton bow tie. Groomsmen will often sport bow ties for weddings, whether it's before or after six o'clock. We enjoy working with grooms and brides on their wedding bow ties and offer exclusive discounts for wedding orders. Doctors and professors often get the stereotype of being bow tie wearing professionals (a stereotype we fully support) and may opt for more traditional styles like plaid bow ties or striped bow ties. For a social event, conversational, southern bow ties make a great ice breaker and statement piece all at once. 

How to Tie a Bow Tie?

We realize, even with the best tying bow tie on the market, tying a bow tie is not an easy feat. Many debate between self-tie and pre-tied bow ties but we find self-tied bow ties consistently result in a better looking bow tie. We partnered with our friend Lucky Levinson to create a video to help you know how to tie a bow tie. Find the video and step-by-step instructions here.

The History of Bow Ties

The first appearance of bow ties was in the 17th century during the Thirty Year War. King Louis XIII hired Croatian mercenaries to create a high-fashion allusion to the piece of fabric they wore around their neck as part of their uniform. The French king then made it a mandatory part of gentlemen's formal wear and named it "La Cravat" to honor the Croats who inspired the style.