Bradenton business owner turns love of bow ties into Dapper Bowtique

BRADENTON, Fla. - Dapper Bowtique is a handcrafted bow tie and accessory business located in Bradenton. 

Travis Ray, the owner of Dapper Bowtique, says he started wearing bow ties in kindergarten. 

"I would be the kid wearing a bow tie out of the blue, not just on picture day," he recalled. 

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Ray learned to sew by hand and machine in the seventh grade. Fast-forward a few years, and he started making bow ties for himself. 

"I wanted to create something I didn’t see on a shelf in some of the name-brand stores," Ray says. 

His friends started asking him to make them bow ties as well. After those same friends urged him to start a business, Dapper Bowtique was born. 

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Ray also made a how-to video on tying bow ties that is posted on the Dapper Bowtique website. 

You can shop Dapper Bowtique online at dapperbowtique.com. Shipping anywhere in the US is free.