Bowties at HoraceHugh
A former Potomac resident and self-described East Coast person at heart, Janice Howard has discovered how to tie a better bowtie.
Her company, HoraceHugh, has just received a U.S. patent for its self-tied bowtie. This new product is designed to solve a man’s angst over self-tying a bowtie. “Long a secret of the retail display community, the easiest way to tie a self-tied bow is around your leg,” said Howard, founder and CEO of HoraceHugh, an exclusive brand of unconventional men’s shirts and accessories. “If you can tie your tennis shoe, you can tie our bow tie,” she said. Just tie it on your leg exactly the way you would tie your shoe.”
Based in Coronado, Calif., HoraceHugh patented “The Better Bow” which incorporates a magnetic clasp into the design of the product. This clasp fits under a standard collar and can be monogramed in sterling silver or 14K gold or adorning the back of a wingtip collar. This slim piece of jewelry allows you to remove the tied bow from around your leg and neatly clasp it around your neck in one simple motion.
“As easy as a clip-on but sophisticated, classic and artful because it isn’t perfect, the way a hand-tied bow is supposed to look,” said Howard. Only a handful of men can self-tie a bow tie, and pre-tied bows stand out as an obvious impostor.
With a history of designing men’s fashion, Howard was inspired by her 25 years in the architectural industry to blend function and aesthetics. “I began by running an interior architectural firm. Now I am coming back to do something I fell in love with in high school and college — fashion design. I worked at Garfinckel’s and have always enjoyed business. Good design is essential. I love business and being creative and being a successful entrepreneur. I have always been a conservative East Coast person. This product is very preppy and East Coast,” she said.
Howard started her company by making luxury formal shirts that sold through Saks Fifth Avenue for three seasons. Her products are made in the USA. “Saks encouraged me to start to make ties that would pair with my shirts. That is how I got into the bowtie business. My sister Sharon gave me the idea to make bow ties out of school uniforms. She had Stone Ridge School skirts from her girls and wanted to make bow ties out of them for their husbands. The company was named after my father (Horace) and my old business partner's dad, (Hugh),” she said.
Bow ies are an iconic staple of the men’s accessory market and continue to see strong sales year after year. According to Bloomberg Report, bowtie sales represent about 7 percent of the $850 million U.S. neckwear market last year, up from 4 percent the previous year.
The increased popularity of bowties can be traced back to TV shows such as Glee, Gossip Girl and Two and a Half Men, on which Ashton Kutcher as a nerdy software mogul has played well with young entrepreneurs.
According to Howard, “Bowties are trending. Geek chic, Southern Dandy, East Coast preppy, the gay community, all are embracing bow ties as a new fashion statement in day wear. Bowtie Tuesday started in Chicago and has now spread across the U.S. office landscape. In addition, wing tip collars are coming back into vogue and bow ties are the only style acceptable with a wing tip collar. Bowties are no longer limited to silk. We make traditional 100 percent silk bows but in addition produce many others. Some of our offerings are: 100 percent woven twill and satin silk, Liberty of London printed silks and cottons which are gorgeous, skinny cotton bows, school uniform bows, bows made from vintage re-purposed shirts and matching pet bowties. Bow ties make the perfect groomsman's gift. Forget the monogrammed flasks. We offer monogramed clasps for groomsmen. By taking two tales you can mix and match to create four looks. We also offer custom monograms for corporations and individuals. Also, our holiday bow collection is very cool. We have great holiday plaids.”
For more information visit www.horacehugh.com.