Patriotic Bow Ties

The R. Hanauer Process

Each individual R. Hanauer tie is made by a talented team in our shop. Our bow ties are made by hand and made to order. The specific types of silk, cotton, linen, and wool fabrics for our products are always carefully selected by our father-and-son team, Randy and Randall Hanauer. We feature English and Italian silk from renowned international mills in our collections and hand-make the bow ties, neckties and cummerbund sets with American craft and attention to detail. When the order process has begun, our ties are cut by hand on the table. As opposed to the straight of grain, our bow tie fabric is cut on a bias to produce the best-tying bow tie on the market. Cutting on the bias allows the pattern to be cut out at a 45-degree angle to produce the gentle stretch of the fabric for the ease of tying. A bias-cut lining is in each and every one of our bow ties to ensure that the structure and shape will always remain in its best condition. We are proud and dedicated to making American made bow ties in our hometown of Fort Mill, South Carolina.

The History of the American Flag

Why red, white, and blue? The history and significance of the American flag goes above and beyond what many people would consider. The colors themselves were chosen because they derived from the Union Jack flag of England, our “mother” country. Since the heritage of America came from England, it was the most obvious choice to have the same colors to pay homage while also adding a new and personal take on it.

In Philadelphia on June 14, 1777 the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress put forth a new resolution in accordance to the flag that read: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.” Later in 1949, President Harry S. Truman declared that June 14th would officially be known as Flag Day.

The symbolic meaning of the colors did not come about until June of 1782 when an official seal was in development for America. The Secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thomson, said in reference to the seal that “the colors are those used in the flag of the United States of America. White signifies purity and innocence. Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue… signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.”

The historical and personal significance of the American flag went on to inspire the creation of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814 and The Pledge of Allegiance in 1892. While the original flag contained only 13 stars in a circular pattern to represent the states, it changed drastically over the years as America grew and evolved. Today, the 50 stars stand for America’s 50 states, while the 13 red and white stripes represent the 13 colonies. To add another interpretation to the pattern, The House of Representatives released a book in 1977 about the flag and claimed, “The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.”

Patriotism through Fashion

A patriotic bowtie is a great fit for a gentleman going for a casual look to wear to an event such as a summer concert, downtown festival or backyard holiday barbeque. These bow ties also make a classic formal statement when paired with a suit or tuxedo. For instance, if one were going to a formal wedding during the summer, a patriotic bow tie would be a great addition. Red, white, and blue are classic colors for the summer celebration season as well as any given day in America. Wearing a patriotic bow tie becomes a wonderful part of a gentleman’s signature style and a sharp way to support our country. More than anything, expressing yourself is very important to us at R. Hanauer.

The American flag is an iconic symbol of pride and freedom known around the world. Because of this, the flag and red, white and blue pattern has been integrated heavily into fashion. The American “stars and stripes” patriotic patterns began making their mark in the everyday fashion world around the 1970s and have only grown in popularity since.  

Sporting a patriotic bow tie stands out as a conversational piece of clothing that immediately illustrates a strong sense of personality. R. Hanauer is proud to showcase these custom and American made patriotic collection of bow ties.