We had the good fortune of connecting with Travis Ray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Travis, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The inspiration behind Dapper Bowtique® stemmed from a dream that Travis had where his ancestors appeared to him and dropped African print bow ties and fabrics onto his head and in his lap. This dream inspired him to research the origins of his ancestry.

With extensive research on his family tree, which goes back to the mid 1800’s and taking three separate DNA tests, Travis discovered that he is a descendant of the Tikar Village of Cameroon (Maternal) and a descendant of the Ateke Village of Gabon (Paternal). Another DNA test concluded that 97% of his DNA comes from West Africa, including ties to Cameroon, Benin/Togo, Ghana and Nigeria.

To honor the ancestral inspiration behind creating his brand, Mr. Ray gives back to his local community by volunteering with youth organizations tailored to helping young men of color excel. He tutors them in entrepreneurship and life skills. Since Mr. Ray learned to sew in 7th grade, he hopes to teach that skillset in the near future to the young men.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Dapper Bowtique® is an online accessory brand created by Travis Ray for the purpose of selling handcrafted bow ties and accessories to the dapper and chic individual. Our brand is about embracing African culture and celebrating it with colors, prints and unique designs; while merging it with a classic flair. The resulting outcome is “wearable art” handcrafted in the “Sunshine State.” Our brand has gotten to where we are today due to an amazing support system. Our Founder is always dreaming up new and interesting patterns to help the work to standout. This is not an easy feat, but we all make time and produce renewed energy for the things that we love. We want the world to know that our brand started as a dream from the ancestors of our Founder. The ancestors created the foundation for this brand to be successful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, living near the water has always been a dream. So, the best thing is to take a boat ride to see the city. Then shopping and supporting local/small businesses is definitely on the list. In addition, my partner and I are avid cooks, so the best place to eat is definitely in the Ray Casa! As we can make tons of different items. However, outside of what we cook, I love Toasted Mango…its a local staple that serves breakfast and lunch. A friend can’t come to where we live without them experiencing all of the famous beaches here, such as Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Anna Maria Island. Tons of fun, shops, and amazing people to meet on and surrounding the local beaches.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So, I wouldn’t be in this space and time without my creator. I also would like to shout out my ancestors, guides and all of the people who have genuinely supported my artistry since I was in grade school to this point in my life. I thank you all for the support.

Website: www.dapperbowtique.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dapperbowtique/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-ray-b0a5a655/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dapperbowtique/

Other: Clubhouse and WeKinFolk, please search “@dapperbowtique.”

Image Credits
Photo credit for first image of Travis Ray, was shot by Lori Sax.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.