Former NFL linebacker and University of Michigan alum, Dhani Jones, will be making a personal appearance at Macy’s Novi on October 13, 2011 from 6pm-8pm, representing his charity, Bow Tie Cause.  Attendees will enjoy music, complementary pampering treatments for the gentleman, have an opportunity to test drive a Tom Holzer Ford and most importantly, purchase a bow tie in support of a great cause.  Detroit Style Review had an opportunity to chat with Jones about his charity and fashion.  

DSR: You’ll be making a personal appearance at Macy’s on October 13^th on behalf of your charity, Bow Tie Cause, which you launched in 2010, in support of one of your friends diagnosed with cancer.  Tell DSR readers a little more about your charity.

DJ: “Bow Tie Cause was started because one of friends, he challenged me, he said, ‘If you want to be somebody you’ve got to rock the bow tie.’ I found out he had cancer, so I wanted to wear the bow tie to support him.  Initially, I was a little apprehensive because I looked around at all of the people who wear bow ties like Jimmy Harman, Yogi Bear, Orville Redenbacher, that you don’t necessarily want to mimic, if you will, but then finding out he had cancer, wearing the bow tie to support him became more important and you put everything else behind you.  Now we support other organizations by creating bow ties for them.  We worked with 9/11 Memorial, we worked with Live Strong Foundation, our first bow tie was for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation  with Fernando Aguirre and his son and, of course, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which was a really important bow tie that we created.  Our most important thing is to adhere to the four corners of the bow tie which is self representation, service, collaboration and critical thought.  That’s how we go about all of our relationships.  It’s important to represent yourself and critically understand it’s necessary to serve and collaborate and through the knot of the bow tie that’s represented through education.”  

DSR: How much input do you have in the overall creative process when it comes do designing the bow ties?

DJ: “The creative process is a joint relationship between myself and someone from that organization or someone that ultimately is affected by a specific cause because we want to work closely.  We recognize we can’t do everything by ourselves and we recognize it’s important to involve everybody because it’s a collaborative effort.”

DRS: You’re a pretty stylish guy in your own right.  Who are some of your favorite designers?

DJ: “Ozwald Boateng, Michael Kors - there are a lot of designers out there doing some pretty prolific things.  I was a big fan of McQueen and his revolutionary tactics, as well as Louboutin - you look at what they’ve done to revolutionize women’s shoes.  I’m not a person who doesn’t notice those stylings, if you will.   One guy that really sticks out besides all those guys is a guy named David Schottenstein with what he’s able to do with his suits.  He’s done a tremendous job.  He comes from a different background within his family, but then he went over to Italy, learned it for himself and then came back into the States and started his own company.  I really commend a guy like that.”   

DSR: What one item do you feel every well dressed man should have in his wardrobe?

DJ: “Oh, absolutely a bow tie.  You need a bow tie in your wardrobe and you need to know how to tie the bow tie – that’s the most important thing.  That comes with time, but you have to have one in your wardrobe.  That signifies an exemplary gentleman who’s willing to rock the bow tie and rock it for a cause.”    

DSR: Bow Tie Cause is your first real foray into fashion.  Can we expect any more fashion related projects from you in the near future?

DJ: “I imagine there are a lot more fashionable aspects that will come to be – right now we’re focusing on bow ties, but who knows – cuff links, pocket squares, socks.  There are different aspects that we think about, but right now we’re focused on the bow ties and we’re focused on the four corners that represent the bow tie.”

~Jessica R. Simmons

Photo courtesy of Post Pro Magazine