Talk to Corwyn Thomas—lead designer for Krimson by Kwame and designer/owner of Corwyn Apparel—about his tie collection, and you will hear a few phrases drop from his mouth again and again: “the dimple makes the difference” and “[the ties] are richer, thicker and stronger.” These may seem like catchphrases to an outsider, but to Thomas, they are the key principles that have enabled him to set into action a childhood dream.
Launched in 2001, Corwyn Apparel has found success by creating custom business ties and suits for men and women. Shortly after pairing up with Kwame Jackson, the reality television personality who made his premiere on the first season of Donald Trump’s
The Apprentice, Thomas agreed to head up design for the neckwear line of
Krimson by Kwame, thus fulfilling a dream that started in 1976 when Thomas was only six years old.
“Part of my routine with my dad was to help pick out his tie. He worked for Chase Bank and had to wear one everyday,” Thomas explained. “As I got older, I started coordinating his outfits; I did this until I was about 16.”
In these moments with his father, a love for clothes and design was instilled within Thomas, and like a needle in a pushpin, the concept stuck. However, it wouldn’t be until later in his life when this needle would wiggle its way back to the surface.
After graduating from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA with a Bachelor of Science in accounting, Thomas migrated north and landed a position with Procter & Gamble. Married with children in the Cincinnati area and an established member of his church, it appeared as if Thomas had secured his place in the business world. A sermon given by his pastor, however, generated an itch in Thomas that he had to scratch.
“My pastor gave a sermon, and he said ‘empower the people to be independent business owners,’” he recalls.
Thomas took these words to heart. He and his wife participated in four 10-week entrepreneurship courses where he fine-tuned the preliminary plans to launch his necktie company. It was within these sessions that inspiration struck Thomas and birthed his company’s slogan: ‘the dimple makes the difference.’
“A deep dimple is the sign of a well-dressed man, and our ties create that dimple on their own,” Thomas explains as he holds up a tie to demonstrate the dimpling effect.
Soon, Thomas found himself leading a double life: tackling the daily challenges of working at P&G by day and designing custom ties by night. As Thomas reached the point where he believed his dreams of designing full-time could become a reality, the fates began to weave together a path that would lead him to do just that.
“Through my church, we have the SOAR outreach program, which is a mentorship program for children whose parents have been incarcerated. Kwame Jackson was our scheduled speaker, and I was assigned to pick him up at the airport,” Thomas explains.
The two talked, and soon the pieces began to fall into place.
“Corwyn and I have a lot in common, and our vision for style is the same," Jackson says. "He and I are both fraternity brothers and Procter & Gamble alums. As it turns out, he already had the infrastructure ready to manufacture the ties, and I had the creative vision for the company and designs for the ties all laid out. No wonder, then, that it's turned out to be a match made in heaven."
Continues Jackson, "In the time since Corwyn and I joined forces, Krimson by Kwame has evolved from a solid business plan into solid sales at flagship Belk's and Macy's stores across the country.”
The crimson of Kappa Alpha Psi brought Thomas and Jackson together, but Krimson by Kwame is what solidified the partnership between the designing duo.
“Krimson by Kwame, which primarily retails high-end handmade ties at reasonable prices, is not a random project with a random name, but a personal endeavor that has been years in the making,” Jackson says. “I came up with the concept for Krimson by Kwame years ago. In my line of work, I always have to wear a suit and tie, and I decided that instead of going out and purchasing other brands, I would start my own. “
Although the Krimson line is found primarily at Belk, the southern retail chain of department stores, as well as select Macy’s, Thomas and Jackson are hoping to increase their sales in Cincinnati. The first stint of this project will be trunk shows held throughout the city including one with Kwame Jackson at 5:30 p.m. on April 23rd at The Bankers
Club of Cincinnati.
“With our shared Procter & Gamble roots and the ongoing support of the Cincinnati community, it’s a great city to include in the Krimson tour," Jackson says. "The mayor of Cincinnati and several Bengals and local professionals have already attended previous Krimson VIP events, so we know the support base is strong and interest is high."
He continues, "The Krimson VIP trunk show tour is a way to allow customers to experience the unique luxury that is Krimson style first hand. We will provide intimate, on-site style cues and image consulting along with helping our professional customers select the most appropriate executive neckwear. It’s a win-win for select clients and Krimson as we continue to build our international brand.”
As the team works to increase the popularity of Krimson within Cincinnati,
Corwyn Apparel has already successfully created a niche here. The line boasts a long list of local Cincinnatians who offer repeat business and, according to Thomas, have helped make his clothing line flourish.
“It has been Cincinnati itself who has helped me launch this,” Thomas explains. “So many great things have started here, so many great companies, so why not Corwyn Apparel?”
If you're curious to examine Corwyn Thomas' neck wear for yourself,
you're in luck. Corwyn Apparel will host a special trunk show with
special guest Kwame Jackson at 5:30 p.m. on April 23rd at The Bankers
Club of Cincinnati. For more information, click here.