A Legacy in Thread: The Story of R. Hanauer
Founded in 1985 by Randy Hanauer, R. Hanauer grew from hand-cut pocket squares into a Fort Mill, SC, family brand known for meticulous, bias-cut bow ties and classic accessories. Built on Southern craftsmanship and loyal retailer relationships, it now progresses under Randy’s son Randall, preserving quality and integrity.
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When Randy Hanauer founded R. Hanauer in 1985, he wasn’t following a trend – he was following a principle: that quality never goes out of style. What began as a small collection of hand-cut cotton pocket squares has grown into one of the most respected names in American men’s accessories.
This is the story of the man behind the name - a steward of fine craftsmanship whose quiet determination helped shape not only a company, but a legacy. From its workshop in Fort Mill, South Carolina, R. Hanauer continues to reflect the hallmarks of Southern refinement: elegance, precision, and a personal touch that only a family business can provide.
From the Farm to Fifth Avenue
Randy Hanauer grew up on a family farm in South Whitley, Indiana where they raised hogs and chickens right alongside perseverance and self-reliance. It was here that Randy absorbed early lessons that would outlast any degree: work hard, pay attention, take pride.
After high school, Randy began what he thought would be his career – farming – but decided to do what no other family member had done: attend college. To cover tuition at International Business College in Fort Wayne, he took a third-shift job at General Electric until a position opened at the upscale department store, Patterson Fletcher.
College, however, wasn’t for Randy. After struggling with Advanced Accounting & Finance, he chose a different path before joining the 151st Infantry (Airborne) Long Range Patrol of the Indiana National Guard. He began his military training in November 1966 at Fort Ord, California, followed by advanced infantry training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He went on to graduate from the Indiana Officer Candidate School (OCS) Academy in 1968.
When his service concluded, Randy returned to civilian life – and to menswear. Through a connection, he accepted a position with Heider, Ltd., a fine upscale men’s clothing store, where he gained firsthand experience in the business side of fashion. His efforts soon caught the eye of a sales rep, Hence Orne, from Corbin Ltd., one of the most respected trouser companies in the country. “Would you be interested in moving to New York City to work for Corbin?” the rep asked.
It was the opportunity of a lifetime. In January 1969, Randy packed his bags for the Big Apple. “That,” he recalls, “was the turning point of my life.”
Cut from the Cloth of Excellence
Working under Howard Corbin and Jerry Nadler, Randy was immersed in the business. He worked closely with retailers from across the United States and traveled with Mr. Nadler to mills to see how a line was put together. Every Monday morning, they would review fabric reports from the factory in Huntington, West Virginia, with Mr. Nadler going line by line to decide what to reorder and in what quantities.
Through these experiences, Randy learned to recognize quality not just by look or feel, but by the way a color could carry a garment, while helping develop fabrics and color palettes for future collections.
Among the many people he met were Ralph Lauren, then an ambitious newcomer, and Joe Barrato, Ralph’s first employee. Joe gifted Randy three neckties from the very first Polo collection – a gesture that symbolized both friendship and Randy’s entry into the world of timeless American fashion.
The Road South
After three years with Corbin, Randy wanted to understand not just how fine garments were made, but how they were sold – how relationships, trust, and instinct turned craftsmanship into commerce.
He joined Norman Hilton, a premier American clothing company known for its impeccable construction and refined sensibility. Hilton was introducing a label called John Gilbertson, and Randy was tasked with building that business across the Southeast. It was during this period that he developed deep respect for Southern retailers and the Southern gentlemen they dressed.
On January 1, 1972, Randy and his new bride, Jayma, moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. From this vantage point, Randy could maximize his territory – he’d leave Mondays, work appointments all week, and return Fridays – but it was all commission based. “We didn’t know how we’d make it through,” recalls Randy. “Thankfully, Jayma had a good job at an architecture firm and I just kept at it. In time, it paid off.”
As Randy’s reputation grew, so did the caliber of the brands he represented: Burberry rainwear, John Smedley knitwear, H. Freeman tailored clothing, Trafalgar leather goods, Christys of London hats, Ghurka bags, Country Britches, Corgi sweaters and socks, Marlynn jackets, and Southwick menswear.
By the late 1970s, Randy was one of the South’s most trusted sales reps – traveling the region in a camper van custom-fitted as a mobile luxury showroom.
Introducing R. Hanauer
In 1985, opportunity met intuition. Randy recognized a gap in the market: there wasn’t a well-made, correctly sized, white cotton pocket square available anywhere. Gentlemen used bulky white handkerchiefs as a stand in. So, from his farm in Waxhaw, NC, Randy began producing his own.
The first R. Hanauer pocket squares were cut and sewn by hand, and finished with a distinctive rolled edge. Retailers appreciated the quality and practicality; customers recognized the craftsmanship. As orders grew, so did the line – bow ties and cummerbunds, each made with the same dedication to precision and timeless design.
A new American accessory brand was born.
The Making of a Southern Brand
In 1989, production moved out to a 1,500-square-foot space on Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It was the beating heart of what would become a beloved Southern brand.
While Randy continued to travel during the week, Jayma managed day-to-day operations – overseeing production while balancing the rhythms of family life. “It was years before we took paychecks,” Randy recalls. The effort was well-spent – the company expanded twice over the next decade, eventually occupying more than 4,000 square feet.
Many of the early employees came from the area’s textile industry, bringing decades of sewing experience and an intuitive understanding of quality. “They were incredibly skilled,” Randy says. “They knew how things should be done, and weren’t interested in shortcuts.”
R. Hanauer products began appearing in leading specialty stores throughout the South and beyond. The company’s signature style – classic, refined, approachable – reflected Randy’s taste and the region itself. It was Southern elegance in its purest form: gracious, enduring, and quietly confident.
Growing with Grace
Through the 1990s and early 2000s, R. Hanauer grew steadily – not by chasing trends, but by earning loyalty. Retailers appreciated the consistent high quality, quick turnaround, and genuine service that were cornerstones of the brand.
A new chapter began in 2008 when Randall Hanauer, Jr. joined the business. After college, he had worked in commercial real estate but quickly discovered what made R. Hanauer special. “I realized this wasn’t just about bow ties,” he says. “It was about relationships – with customers, with our team, with the community.”
Father and son soon developed a natural rhythm: Randy focused on sales and design, while Randall took the reins on operations and strategy. Their partnership modernized the business while preserving its values.
In 2011, Randy purchased the company’s current building in downtown Fort Mill, adding a small storefront to complement the workshop. By then, R. Hanauer pocket squares, neckties (added in 2004), bow ties, and cummerbunds were stocked in more than 300 specialty stores across the country and recognized as one of the nation’s leading names in handcrafted men’s accessories.
Bow tie shape templates in the shop
Craftsmanship & Standards
For R. Hanauer, craftsmanship isn’t a slogan – it’s the standard. Every bow tie, cummerbund, and pocket square is made with meticulous care and purpose. In a time when most apparel manufacturing is outsourced, R. Hanauer is committed to keeping production close to home.
Each new sewing team member begins with a sewing test, an essential part of the hiring process that helps maintain R. Hanauer’s exacting standards. Those who pass join a small, close-knit team where every product is sewn start to finish by a single pair of hands. It’s a process that fosters pride, precision, and accountability.
One of the company’s most distinctive practices is cutting fabrics on the bias – a 45-degree angle to the weave – giving the finished bow its supple drape and elegant knot. “It’s neither cost effective nor easy,” Randy admits, “but it makes all the difference.” To this day, R. Hanauer is among the only bow tie makers to cut every bow tie this way. (And R. Hanauer remains one of the few to offer white cotton pocket squares.)
R. Hanauer oversees operations from its Fort Mill shop, where Randy and Randall ensure every detail meets their standards. Bow ties, cummerbunds, ascots, and D-ring belts are made in Fort Mill, pocket squares are crafted in Italy, and neckties are produced in Pilot Mountain, NC, with the company maintaining strict quality control at every stage.
Every stitch, fold, and finish reflects the belief that quality is not an act, but a necessity – one passed from hand to hand, and generation to generation.
The Legacy Continues
Over the years, the Hanauers have seen the menswear world shift dramatically. Trends rise and fall, yet R. Hanauer’s philosophy has never changed: make beautiful things with integrity, treat customers like old friends, and stay true to the craft.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and shuttered stores, the company never missed a day of work – pivoting to make masks for customers and community partners while keeping every team member employed. “We just kept going,” Randy says. “That’s what you do when people depend on you.”
For Randy, the greatest joy isn’t in how far the company has come, but in knowing who will carry it forward. “The most thrilling thing,” he says, “is seeing Randall love it – really get it – and know how to run it.”
When the second generation takes the helm, the essence of R. Hanauer will remain the same: family, craftsmanship, and the humble satisfaction of a job done right. In a world that changes by the minute, that kind of constancy is something rare – and something worth preserving.
