Rory Hutton

British fashion designer Rory Hutton talks to us about his unique bow tie collection and what makes it stand out in the market.

Making his mark as a designer with a penchant for screen-printed bow ties, handmade with Irish linen, Rory Hutton and his eponymous label are emerging names in the UK fashion scene and it is now here in Malaysia.

We first caught glimpse of the Rory Hutton bowties during our 25th Anniversary Ball, where dashing gentlemen like Michael Helfman, Raymond Choon and James Tee were spotted wearing them.

Stocked in luxury department stores like Fortnum & Mason, London and Brown Thomas, Ireland, the brand has finally made its move into Asia and it is now officially launched at Cuevolution.com for the Malaysian market.

When he was in town for the launch, we sat down with the man himself to talk about the beauty of Irish linen and what makes it so attractive.

Why did you start your menswear brand with bow ties?
It's because I'm very familiar with it and I've worn them since I was a child. My parents used to always dress me up in stylish outfits and my grandfather also wore bowties all the time. It's like a must-have accessory for the men in my family.

Why did you choose Irish linen specifically to create your collection?
When I started my brand, I wanted something that has the English heritage feel. Growing up in the UK, Irish linen is something that I'm always aware of and I realise that there aren’t a lot of things done with it in the market.

It’s a really beautiful and versatile fabric and I wanted to share its beauty with everyone.

How did you start with the idea of screen-printing bow ties?
When I bought my screen printer, I started experimenting on the different ways I can incorporate it into Irish linen.

Then, there was this one print I made that has tiny bees on it. So, I decided to print the bees at the corner of a bow tie and it looked really good!

What is unique about the Rory Hutton bow ties?
In a sense, these bow ties are one-of-a-kind creations because each and every pattern printed will have varied shades of colour.

Professionally, screen printing uses a lot of machinery and technology to create 100% identical prints, but I only have the screen and my body weight to do the trick. So it's different every time I print it on the fabric, but I actually find that more interesting. It has more personality and quirk to it.

Who is the Rory Hutton man?
He can be anybody from five to 100 years old – just as long as they are someone who loves something fun and exciting.

Aside from bowties, what do you have planned for your brand?
Eventually I am going to launch a full menswear line. At the moment, I have just launched pocket squares and lapel pins, in addition to some exciting new colour-blocking and patchwork-inspired bow ties.

Is there any fear of being pigeonholed as only a bow tie and accessory designer?
Bow ties are what make the suit more interesting for a man, like how a ball gown works for a lady. For once, men will get the attention when on a red carpet.

So, I don't think it is a problem at all. The bow tie is what represents my brand – heritage and craftsmanship. More importantly, I think it makes a great logo for my brand for menswear.

Do you have any interesting tatler_tatler_stories about your clients you wish to share?
I do. In fact recently, I had an elderly gentleman who came to buy bow ties for his two grandsons who are only 5 and 6. The gentleman wanted to give the kids their first ever bow ties as a memento for when they grow up. It was rather lovely to watch.

 

 

Officially launched in Malaysia, Rory Hutton bowties and men's accessories are now available exclusively at Cuevolution.com.

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