I'm thrilled and humbled to announce that Blue Eyes Bow Ties has been named a finalist in the 2024 ‘Great British Entrepreneur Awards’ for the Maker and Creator category for the Southwest! The winners are announced in November 2024 so I’ll be sure to let you know how we do!
Blue Eyes Bow Ties is a limited edition bow tie company that brings you a handcrafted collection of constantly changing, unique pre-tied and self-tie bow ties, pocket squares and cufflinks. All of my products are made in very small numbers, so you know you'll be one of just a few people worldwide to ever wear any particular design. From sophisticated and smart to quirky and funky, if you're someone who likes to know they're wearing a unique one-off item, you're in the perfect place.
Blue Eyes Bow Ties source unique fabrics both locally and from further afield to bring you unusual, funky and individual bow ties.
All of my bow ties are completely handmade using fine quality fabrics - usually 100% cotton, silk or velvet. I'm based in the South West of England and supply my products worldwide, both one-off designs for individuals and commissions for special occasions such as weddings. Therefore, if there's something you want but can't see it on my website, get in touch and I'll see what I can do.
We are also very proud members of Make it British!
Blue Eyes Bow Ties won the coveted 'Small Business Sunday' award from Theo Paphitis, renowned entrepreneur and 'dragon' from the hit BBC TV show Dragons' Den. Blue Eyes Bow Ties went on to win Jacqueline Gold's #WOW Women in Business award.
Mulberry, Crockett & Jones, Kate Middleton and Blue Eyes Bow Ties… What do they have in common? Well, they all featured in the UK’s Daily Express newspaper on 4th December 2020 as part of their two-week long ‘Brilliantly British’ campaign! Here’s the double page spread (spot the bow tie)…
I was contacted by a journalist from the Daily Express who was researching and writing the feature, which aimed to bring recognition to British brands in order to boost highstreets and businesses across the country.
I’m thrilled to have been included alongside such illustrious businesses as Mulberry and Crockett & Jones (the makers of OO7’s shoes), not to mention being positioned next to a photo of Kate Middleton!
In November 2019 I received the exciting news that one of our bow ties was being worn by Doctor Who in the new series that aired in January 2020! Here's Jodie Whittaker, playing Doctor Who, sporting the bow tie which can also be seen in the official BBC trailer. You can find the bow tie HERE or to read more on the story click HERE.
In British GQ magazine you can see one of my favourite bow ties, the Lime Green and Pink Paisley design which is available HERE and is an extremely popular and much-loved design.
My story begins when Alex, my lovely husband, asked me to marry him. I said yes without hesitation, only a little bit persuaded by the beautiful ring he bought for me!
Over the next few days I decided that I wanted to do something special for him, to say thank you for his proposal, and I set upon the idea of making him a waistcoat. Dusting off my trusty sewing machine, which, I’m ashamed to say, had been abandoned for some time (life had got in the way of the hobby I’d enjoyed since childhood); I got my new project underway.
The waistcoat turned out really well and, seeing my enjoyment in sewing return, Alex suggested that I make something else, a bow tie perhaps, to go with his waistcoat. So I made one and really enjoyed it!
I made some more, and some more and realised that, unless I wanted to turn my home into a bow tie museum I could see if others liked them as much as we did and so I put some up for sale.
I started selling my handmade bow ties online. People showed interest from places as far away as New Zealand and Chile! Ever since, I’ve been happily making bow ties and experimenting with fabrics and new techniques. I’m super proud to be here now, on my own website, getting amazing feedback from my lovely customers.
