Bow Tie Bash

Michael Cepress Bowties

by Caitlin Collins

Tonight the Velouria boutique and gallery added Seattle’s sharpest menswear designer, Michael Cepress, to its independent designer repertoire. This coming together of remarkable Seattle forces was dubbed the Bow Tie Bash, and the rest is history.

Now boasting two locations in the Seattle area, Velouria features handmade accessories, unique artwork and high-quality apparel, all brought to you by independent designers. Tonight’s event was held at Velouria’s newest location, open since mid December, at Melrose Avenue on Capitol Hill. Store owner Tes spoke excitedly of Velouria’s dedication to independent designers, saying the store focuses on getting “back to people just designing and crafting.”

Cepress has taken over a corner of the store with signature shorts, bow ties, reversible vests, and something new: cufflinks. They are the result of a collaboration with designer Phillip Baldwin, and these cufflinks are most definitely one-of-a-kind. Each pair is completely handmade, some classic in design and others completely original. For example, many pairs hold a delicate and intricate form–Cepress explained that he wished to craft the metal to move like fabric, having had cloth as his medium for so many years. In addition, the cufflinks have moveable findings for ease of wear and movement.

As Cepress stood surrounded by his newly-hung clothing, he remarked it was “in good company” in such a place as Velouria. We had to agree.

See for yourself by visiting one of Velouria’s two locations, on Capitol Hill at 1521 Melrose Ave or in Ballard at 2205 NW Market St. For more on Michael Cepress, visit his site.

Photography by Marco Cheng.