I ran into Lord Wallington by seeing them posting some of their ties on Twitter. Since then I have been a huge fan of what they are building. It is obvious that Immanuel loves what he does, so naturally, 7 Days Theory wanted to get his perspective on his company & life.  Check out an inside view to what made Immanuel Ontiveros start Lord Wallington. We hope you enjoy the interview! Check out more interviews like this »> 

How did you start Lord Wallington?

Since 2012 I have been the creative force and founder of Lord Wallington. It was a one man show until recently when my fiancee became co-founder.

How long have you known you wanted to do what you are currently working on?

I had never had a desire to be in mens accessories, especially bow ties, but one day when I wanted to wear one that I did not see in the stores I had an “ah ha” moment and everything fell into place.

Why are you passionate about what you do?

I am passionate about the experience I can provide from a bow tie. Most people think of a bow tie as something you wear to a wedding once or twice a lifetime, but I have brought an “experience” to choosing what colors, patterns, and textures best fit your style or event. Best part of Lord Wallington is hearing the reaction of the customer when they get their made to order bow tie… “this is beautiful”.

How did you overcome your own doubts and the doubts of other people?

I simply kept moving forward. I had some doubters that didn’t think, and probably still don’t think I will make this a success, but that doesn’t matter to me because I am not trying to get their attention. I am looking for the positive young man or woman who takes pride in their wardrobe and wants to look good.

What were some bumps you hit to get where you’re at now?

Some bumps I have had along the way so far have been finding the right place to work. I used to have a studio, then another and then, finally started to work from my home. The atmosphere and energy are much better at home and I am more productive. The studios were nice for storage sake, but having to go to them and then paying the monthly fee was not where we were trying to go with Lord Wallington.

 

What is a way you got your name out there?

Fist I am a walking billboard of my brand. I make sure when I go out I am either in a tie, bow tie, or pocket square and use them as a conversation topic. Most guys say “you look sharp” and that opens all kinds of doors to communication and networking. Word of mouth has been the best way for us to get our name out there.

Is there anything that almost stopped you from doing this?

There were times when I thought I was completely wasting my time with bow ties because even though they were coming back in style, people were not used to seeing them out on the town, especially in San Diego. But through confidence in my brand I kept wearing them and more guys would ask where I got them and it was that conversation that would reel them into the idea of owning a bow tie for themselves.

Is there anyone in your profession that you admire and/or model yourself after?

I read about Ralph Lauren when I was in the Navy and he also served in the service. His first business was a tie shop which was the beginning of his global brand. I like to think big like that, but also like to think of how he started selling ties one at a time and eventually branching off to try new things. I am taking small steps by branching from bow ties to neck ties to pocket squares. Who knows what will be next.

How do you continue to perfect your craft?

Practice. With each tie I make the nicer they get. I also find that I learn something new about the processes each time and sometimes switch up how I cut or sew to see if it works better. Like they say, practice makes perfect!

What’s some advice you can share for anyone who wants to pursuit what you are doing?

I would advise someone to learn the ins and outs of the products they are selling. For me, knowing exactly how the bow ties are made it is easier to explain the bow tie and also it gives a great conversation topic with talking to a new client. It gives them more appreciation in the brand knowing how passionate you are about the construction.

How do you envision the future of your product/services?

I envision the future of my products to expand into an entire menswear line that is casual yet sophisticated. San Diego and other beach cities should be able to have their guys dress nicely without loosing the laid back beach feel.

You have a nice online website. How much of your business is driven by online buyers?

Our online business is much smaller then our local word of mouth and boutique sales. We have learned that people LOVE the experience of touching and trying on bow ties. Online sales have been on the rise with the introduction of new products such as pocket squares.

Where can people go to find out more about your awesome products/services?

our site www.lordwallington.com is our brand website. We are also on Facebook under  and on Twitter 

 

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