Knotzland Bowties

Knotzland is a Pittsburgh bow tie maker turning rescued fabric into wearable art. Founded in 2014 by Nisha Blackwell, a Black woman entrepreneur who taught herself to sew after a layoff, the brand has grown into a sustainable fashion studio rooted in community. Every bow tie is handcrafted from reclaimed and repurposed textiles, remnants and discards sourced from local upholsterers, designers, fabric houses and creative reuse partners that would otherwise head to a landfill. To date, Knotzland has kept thousands of pounds of material out of the waste stream while giving forgotten fabric a second life. The work is made by hand through a sew-from-home program that recruits, trains and pays women in and around Pittsburgh, so each piece supports real local livelihoods. Customers can choose from ready made designs or collaborate on bespoke, one of a kind ties for weddings, gifts and everyday statements. Bold prints, rich textures and small batch craftsmanship give every knot its own story. People, planet and profit sit at the center of everything Knotzland makes. Visit the Wilkinsburg studio and showroom to design your own.