Tie Bow.

• Author: STEVENS, M. EASTLAKE
• Position: Brief Article

BOULDER S CARROT GIBBS MAKES BOW TIES FOR A TYING AGE

"We are the foremost manufacturers of bow ties in the United States," said Neil Bonn, co-owner with Christopher Bedell of Boulder-based Carrot & Gibbs Ltd.

Bonn is used to a high profile. "Bow ties are worn by independent individuals who strive to be different. When you wear one, you better be ready to be Looked at," he noted.

Long a bow tie wearer, Bonn worked for a couple of Colorado commercial fabrics manufacturers, and started Carrot & Gibbs in 1987 with a Loan from his father. "The choice of materials in bow ties was very limited," he said. "I did some research and found that people would wear ties made of playful silks." Borin's bow ties, regular ties, tie-and-cummerbund sets, and vests are found in 350 stores in 45 states and Canada.

Bonn employs 30 to 35 workers from six nations. A half-dozen are U.S.-born.

One staffer, Jangale Bishwakarma, is a Nepalese flutist who often goes on tour. His job is there when he gets back, as it is for other workers. Seventy-five percent of Bonn's production staff has been with Carrot & Gibbs five years or more.

1 A sampling of Carrot & Gibbs' $500,000...