Local Designer Series: Local Designer Creates Medically-Inspired Menswear Accessories

After reading a medical article about how doctors can pass along infections from one patient to the next through their long ties, Iian Robert Mull and his husband Dr. Jim Sylvain decided to use Iian's fashion background to their advantage and do something about it. Not only did Dr. Sylvain start topping off his suits with bow ties, but a business was born. Read all about Beauhawk, and the man behind the brand, below.

Image from Beauhawk

DGG: Tell us about yourself, Iian.

Iian Robert Mull: My name is Iian Robert Mull and I currently live in Lansing, Michigan with my husband and business partner, Dr. Jim Sylvain. Besides being a small business owner, I am on the faculty at Central Michigan University in the Fashion Merchandising and Design program. Outside of fashion, my interests include exploring the mind and body connection by studying yoga and swimming. I love traveling, reading, great fitting soft T-shirts, and walking my dogs.

DGG: Tell us the Beauhawk story.

IRM: Beauhawk came into existence because of an American Medical Association (AMA) article that suggested that MRSA Staph Infection (and other bacterial infections) can be spread from one patient to another by contact with a physician’s long tie. My husband and business partner, Dr. Jim Sylvain, decided to start wearing bow ties instead. This became his signature look and with my background in the fashion industry, we decided to design and manufacture modern and fun bow ties.  We have branched out and started making long ties, too, for those guys that may feel a bow tie isn’t for them. 

Image from Beauhawk

DGG: What was your inspiration for the Downtown, Uptown, Midtown, SOHO and WEHO collections? 

IRM: The inspiration really came from the different types of individuals that might wear each type of tie. We took inspiration from New York City and other big cities, like Los Angeles. The Downtown version of our tie is the pre-tied bow tie and is an easy and quick way to make an outfit pop.  This style is targeted to a young and hip customer. The Uptown version of our tie is the traditional long tie, that being said, the Uptown customer is a little more traditional in their style choices, but still want to look sharp. The Midtown version is the traditional self-tie bow tie, and this tie is designed for a dapper gentleman that really likes to make a fashion statement with his tie. Branching in another direction, we decided to design and manufacture lapel pins to compliment our tie collection. The SOHO collection is a lapel pin with a miniature bow tie, and the WEHO collection is a lapel pin with a flower. 

DGG: Do you plan on expanding your product line in the future, or just sticking to ties?

IRM: Absolutely. Our ultimate goal is to be a lifestyle brand. At the moment we are in product development for great fitting, super-soft T-shirts.

Image from Beauhawk

DGG: What has been the most rewarding thing about starting your own company?

IRM: The most rewarding thing about starting my own company is to watch it grow. Being able to design a product, see it come to life, and then see customers wearing it - and looking great in it - is an amazing feeling. 

DGG: What is the best and worst advice you have ever received during this business venture?

IRM: The best advice I have received is to not work with friends. 

DGG: If you could style anyone in the world with your products, who would it be and why?

IRM: Robert Downy Jr.: Still super sexy, sophisticated and a little irreverent. 

Johnny Depp: Dandy, and loves to play with clothing.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: He’s handsome, charming and dressed up well, plus he could use some fun with his clothing choices.  

Adam Levine: His body

Image from Beauhawk

DGG: How do you want to be remembered? 

IRM: I want to be remembered as a person who is passionate about what he did, believed, and loved. 

DGG: Describe your style.

IRM: I call my style traditional with a twist. I love traditional pieces like bow ties and I like to put a little modern twist on the garment. My style is a little bit of dandy mixed with street style -- I love color and print.

DGG: How do you take your coffee?

IRM: I take it with cream!

DGG: Tom Ford menswear or Brunello Cucinelli menswear?

IRM: Tom Ford all the way. 

DGG: Belts or suspenders?

IRM: Both. I like options!

On The Town: The Utmost Group to Speak at The Runway's Fashion 411 Speaker Series

Image from The Runway

The Fashion 411 Speaker Series at The Runway continues this month with insider advice to entrepreneurs and startups from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. Chris Grindem, Executive Director of The Utmost Group, will share insider advice along with market-tested best practices to the fash-preneurs and anyone looking to learn a little something.

The Utmost Group is a Detroit-based boutique branding, marketing and communications firm focused on serving the greater good with social enterprises. Grindem has over 30-plus years in the advertising and marketing industry, working at many different advertising agencies, including Doner, JWT Detroit and Leo Burnett, but the experience doesn't stop there. He can also add entrepreneur to his resume, as he helped found the Optimization Group as well as The Utmost Group.

Attendees will learn all about branding, marketing, digital media and communications. The Fashion 411 Speaker Series is designed to teach success, so Grindem's successes AND failures will be talked about because, sometimes, the best way to learn is through another person's failure. As the great Henry Ford once said, "The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."

Tickets for the event are $15, and can be purchased on Eventbrite. The Runway is located at 300 S Washington Sq., Suite 100, in Lansing. 

Oh, Shop It: Lawrence Hunt Creates a Functional and Fashionable Dress Shirt

Inspired by the game shirts by Major League Baseball, Jeff Schattner, a CPA from Royal Oak, wanted to create a professional dress shirt that is professional, lightweight and would feel great throughout the day. Lawrence Hunt established in 2014 and has exceeded its Kickstarter goal of $15,000 to begin manufacturing the shirts.

The shirts blends 100% cotton with moisture-wicking athletic-wear for the underarm area that is 100% polyester and uses Body Care and Quick Dry function technology to keep the body comfortable by absorbing moisture and perspiration from the skin and transporting it quickly through the fabric for fast evaporation.

“I wanted something that had the classic crisp look of a dress shirt, but also had the lightweight, breathable feel you would find in a jersey or dry fit material,” explains Schattner.

The shirts are manufactured at Michigan Fashion Proto in Lansing, and are available for sale at The Runway Lansing (where Lawrence Hunt also has office space). The five styles of dress shirts also are available online at www.lawrencehunt.co, and retail from $110 to $120. Future plans include a line of women’s professional wear along with additional offerings for men.

For more information, visit www.lawrencehunt.co. The Runway is located in Knapp's Centre at 300 S. Washington Square, Suite 100 in Lansing.