FAMILY TIES
A Whole Lotta Love Goes in to Ella Bing Bow Ties
“When you wear a bow tie, doors open for you. Your posture is a little more erect; your shoulders are a little further back; your style is a little more dynamic. It's about the reestablishment of the gentleman.” ~Dhani Jones
If they weren’t the (practically official) calling card of the gentleman, bow ties would scream sophistication. Instead, they quietly (or not so quietly depending on the print), make poised fashion statements.
We’ve seen a resurgence of bow ties in recent years but few are as original or as meaningful as the wooden ones fashioned locally by Ella Bing Bow Ties. The business is a family affair—a means to heal from the untimely loss of Matthew Kraus (to suicide) and a way for father David Kraus, mother Lisa and brother Brent to honor his memory.
“The first time I wore a bow tie a few years ago, I walked into a local bar and I felt like the music stopped,” Brent Kraus says. “Everyone stared at me as I walked in.”
That doesn’t happen anymore but when he wears a wooden bow tie, it’s a whole other story. “I literally get stopped everywhere I go. Even in the bathroom. People want to touch it and when you tell them it’s wood, they freak out.”
Rightfully so. These smooth, organic, wearable works of art take David Kraus anywhere from one and a half to four hours to make.
Brent and his mother Lisa Kraus (who sews) started the biz with classic, cloth bow ties (which they still offer) but then Ella Bing dared to be different.
“My dad was feeling a little left out. He was a little jealous and wanted to find a way to fit in so we started brainstorming what he could make. And he’s always been a really excellent woodworker.”
They Google-d wooden bow ties and didn’t find much so David made one. They maintained cloth in the center to retain the look and appeal of the traditional bow tie.
“We threw it out on Instagram and people loved it!” #instantgratification “He’s really perfected what he’s done,” Brent says. “And he’s created his own tools.”
Meet LESLIE JOY ICKOWITZ
Originally published in Leslie's "High on Style" column in Creative Loafing's "Play" department. cltampa.com
As they began sourcing exotic wood for the designs, they found a guy on Craigslist selling a massive collection of wood species. There were floor to ceiling boxes of the stuff. “We didn’t know what we were getting into so we bought 180 pieces. Ah, we kind of kick ourselves now,” Brent says with a grimace. “We should have bought everything he had.”
When Ella Bing decided to “step up” their packaging, Craigslist struck again. This time, they found a guy with a warehouse full of vintage cigar boxes from the 30s, 40s and 50s. They bought all of them and now every Ella Bing bow tie purchased via the website (ellabing.com) is shipped inside one as a nod to Tampa’s heritage. You can also find Ella Bing products at Salt Pines in Hyde Park Village and at Black and Denim in Channelside.
Beyond the reversible cloth and wooden bow ties, currently crushing on Ella Bing’s lapel pins. Lapel pins for everyone! Wooden leaves peek out from behind the flower-shaped fabric.They also offer wood necktie clips (and a small selection of neckties), Croakies with wooden slides, pocket squares, and coming this fall…suspenders.
“We’d love to be able to bring the Bermuda bag back because it incorporates wood.” This summer they plan to introduce it along with canvas tote bags for the beach, and partnering with local leather artist Chris Devitt enabled them to add a colorful selection of belts to the Ella Bing label.
Since its 2012 inception, Ella Bing (named in part for Brent’s four-year old daughter Ella) has come a long way baby.
“If my brother was with us today, we’d be so much farther along because he was so in tune with fashion and so forward thinking.”
It’s moving to see something so beautiful bloom in the aftermath of a tragedy.Ella Bing Bow Ties donates 10 percent of all sales to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the Crisis Center’s 24/7 hotline by dialing 2-1-1.
Get VERTICAL…and be part of something Fabulous!!!