We create beautiful bow ties by repurposing vintage materials
sourced from all corners of the world. From Melbourne to Stockholm,
from the 50’s to the 21st century – all comes down to a few bow ties.
At Fantastic Fox we believe that far to many clothes and accessories are
thrown away. That's why we started to repurpose vintage materials to
create our bow ties. Mostly it is ties that we use, but the odd shirt or pants may also make transformation into a bow tie.
Creating the bow tie
We met a seamstress, Judith, in Stockholm who loved our idea. We started to sketch out our own template from a classic bow tie template that would suit to repurpose an old tie. After a couple of tries and with the help of Judith we finally got it!
Sourcing the materials
Well, it’s from everywhere and anywhere really. It could be from the collection
of a late tie lover. A second hand shop in Stockholm, London or Barcelona or any
other place we are lucky to travel to. We just have to travel a bit more; what a
shame.
Handmade by machine in a small boutique and a seamstress studio in
the heart of Stockholm, Sweden, Fantastic Fox
creates accessories for the modern gentleman.
Since the start in late 2011 founders Dennis
Cessan and Carl Johan Malmsten have found
their approach to bow tie design appreciated by
old and new lovers of the classic accessory.
We're always looking for new materials to create our bow ties and they will keep popping up here on the website whenever we've finished one. So keep checking in for new ones.
It's not as difficult as you might think, we promise!
❶ To start off tying your bow tie cross the longer wing over the shorter one. Make a loop, just like the beginning of a normal knot.
Make sure the knot is tight, it will loosen up as we continue. Also, you should only see the wing on the shorter side, whereas the long side should still have some strap left to be used to tie the bow tie with.
❷ Fold the short wing in on itself towards the left. Creating a small loop on the left, and leaving the tip on the right.
This is the base, and you'll see that it's starting to look like a bow tie.
❸ Hold the base. Pull the long wing, with the strap, down over the middle of the shorter wing.
Pause, take a deep breath. Now. You ready? This is where the real tricky part starts. First you'll think it's witchcraft, but after a few tries you'll be the magician.
❹ Fold the long wing in on itself. Bring it to the back side and poke and pull it through the loop that has been created on the backside.
Sometimes it can be tricky to find the loop but it should be there. Stop for a few seconds, maybe loosen the grip a bit of base and give it another go.
❺ Tug at the four ends, making the knot harder and adjusting the size of the wings. Straighten it, make it fluffy, let the wings hang down or squash them with your hands. Make it just as you want to wear it. Nothing is wrong.
Time to relax. You are there. The knot has been tied. This was the base of tying a bow tie. Now let's add some structure and personality to it. For this following step, don't be afraid, the bow tie i strong.
