The first bowtie to leave Jared Jarvis’ sewing machine following the March 2020 launch of his handmade accessory line Tie Travel was “The New York.” Before he and his wife made the move to Baton Rouge to offer aid following the 2016 flood, Jarvis called the Big Apple home. Growing up in Staten Island, his favorite pastime was scouring thrift shops looking for neckties from days past. Vibrant colors and eye-catching patterns were hallmarks that spoke to a different time but that also spoke to Jarvis’ modern fashion sense.

“I love dressing formally,” he remarks, noting the lost art of dressing to the nines that was a way of life in times like the 1950s. “I would take the ties, which were usually thicker in width, and remake them into something that would work with my outfits today. People would see my ties and ask me to make ones for them.”

From those early commissions, Jarvis found his passion for not only sewing, but the process of creating a new garment. For him, the act of getting dressed is more than just a necessity, it’s an opportunity to transport oneself to another place and time, all simply by dressing the part.

Naming his handmade bowties after some of his favorite towns and landmarks, Jarvis makes each accessory to order, even customizing them to suit right- or left-handed wearers. He also offers handsewn pocket squares that coordinate with his most popular ties. Each piece takes its wearer on a journey, whether to somewhere as distant as Dublin or as close as the LSU campus.

“I want to give people the chance to still experience the world even though we can’t exactly travel right now,” he says. “I know it sounds funny when it’s talking about ties but if you think about it, what’s the first thing you think of when you’re going on a trip? For me, it’s what to pack.”

As Tie Travel continues to attract an audience in Baton Rouge and beyond, Jarvis is hoping to expand to even more handmade and curated items like lapel pins and long ties, in addition to launching a video series that will feature professionals from across the country.

“I want to give people the tools to look and feel their best,” explains Jarvis. “I’m not here to say everyone should dress formally. My ties can be worn casually with something like a denim jacket, too. Style is all about setting yourself apart. That’s what I hope my ties do.” tietravel.com