Nisha Blackwell initially started in a different bow business.
“In 2014, I started as a hair bow company, really a hair bow venture, where I was making a hair bow for my friend’s daughter for her birthday. I essentially taught myself how to sew. I took the hairbows to the birthday party, and the parents got excited; we left the party with customers. That was like my first sense of entrepreneurship,” said Blackwell.
From that, her business organically grew as she started receiving requests for things for boys and eventually men. She then pivoted to what she is most known for now, bowties.
“It’s like the first lesson in customer retention. Listen to the customer and listen to what they want,” said Blackwell.
Knotzland does not produce traditional bowties. Instead, they use repurposed fabric to make their stylish neckwear. Over the past seven years, Knotzland has reclaimed over 6,000 pounds of unwanted textile and materials. Blackwell says her sustainable creations began as more of a necessity, and she learned to be resourceful early on.
“I’ve always thrifted with my mom and grandma reclaiming things, and that carried into my adulthood,” said Blackwell. “A lot of times furniture companies and menswear companies create these sample fabrics for each season, and they go out of season once the season’s over. They’re these beautiful books of high-end materials…that was kind of a goldmine for me.”
Over the years, Knotzland has garnered the attention of both Facebook and Google. Blackwell visited Silicon Valley as a part of the Facebook Small Business Council and was also featured in a Google initiative.
“There have been so many wow moments. I often kick myself because I’m usually just so focused and busy that I don’t really process them and take them in until way, way, way down the road,” said Blackwell. “When the CEO of Google is announcing your product and playing your video in the background…that was probably one of the biggest [wow moments].”
Blackwell does not rest on the national acclaim she has received but remains committed to the mission of Knotzland. “I just want to be known as a business that produces quality, luxury, grade, sustainable, wearable pieces of art. We want to be known as that sort of trailblazer in that area of sustainable fashion and sustainable luxury pieces…doing so in a community with ethical practices.”
303 South Trenton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Phone: (412) 256-8470
Website: www.knotzland.com