Although Nemanja Stojanovic has been creating a men’s fashion accessory for only six months, he has already gained an army of fans, because he doesn’t sew his bowties, but makes them by means of a saw and sandpaper.

Having holes, smoothly made, triangular, with details of fabric or metal; on the collars of grooms, who are recently matured boys or on those of elderly gentlemen – the unique bowties manufactured in a modest studio of young Nemanja Stojanovic are getting increasingly more admiring comments.  Not only because of their design but because of the fact that the self-taught designer, who is a student of the medical school in Cuprija, doesn’t make them by cutting fabric but by shaping them by means of a saw and sandpaper. The future male nurse – obstetrician admits that the bowties made of wood have always attracted him, as well as fashion and design.  Even though Nemanja is only twenty-one, these bowties, which is somewhat atypical for members of the younger generation, are his favorite choice of a fashion accessory.  

He began making them out of thin walnut and ash wood this April.  Although he knew that there were many companies in the world that produced such specific bowties, while working on them, Nemanja realized that that was the best way for him to demonstrate his creativity.

“That was my guiding principle whenever I came upon an obstacle, and, trust me, there were many of them, such as bad moves or lack of money to purchase the equipment”, said the student and self-taught designer and carpenter.  

His first collection included around forty models.  He was the only person to wear those bowties, while his first audience included his friends and family members.  It was thanks to the assistance of his family that he purchased a basic machine for cutting wooden platelets. Everything else is handmade and unique. Sometimes it takes him an hour or two to make a bowtie, and sometimes several hours. Each bowtie goes through several stages of processing. For half a year, when his wooden bowties became something between a hobby and a profession, he has made ​ about 150 of them and now his only connection with customers is a page on Facebook.  

“You can’t imagine the shock I experienced when hundreds of comments and compliments for my work came in one day”, said the designer with a smile, especially because he was born in a small town in South Serbia and practically doesn’t know anyone from the world of fashion.  

The designer meets his customer’s demands, but he also finds his ideas by himself.  

He has been noticed by a renowned stylist from Croatia and he plans to cooperate with her.  His orders come not only from Serbia, but also from Austria, Croatia and Bulgaria. However, he hasn’t given up on taking his exams, which he passes while wearing a white coat.  He makes the bowties only when he is at home in South Serbia and hopes that he will be able to present dozens of new models next year.  One day, he says, he will also organize a solo show of wooden bow ties.

Source: Politika daily and Coordination Body