The Tie Bar CEO Wants Menswear Brand To ‘Not Be Afraid To Take Risks’

Dressing down at the office may be on the rise, but The Tie Bar CEO Allyson Lewis says there are still plenty of men turning to neckties, tie bars and pocket squares to “set themselves apart.” Lewis, who joined the menswear retailer 3½ years ago after stints at Nordstrom and Mark Shale, oversaw the brand’s expansion into new product categories as vice president of design and merchandising before taking over as CEO in September. The privately held company is headquartered in the West Loop’s Fulton River District and has its sole permanent retail store at 918 W. Armitage Ave. The brand is also available online through The Tie Bar’s website, Nordstrom.com and certain Nordstrom stores. Lewis said The Tie Bar is proud of the fact that it’s taken a cautious approach to growth and made staying profitable a priority. But after a first foray into sized apparel with a line of dress shirts last fall — which sold out much faster than expected, catching the company by surprise — Lewis said she wants the company to get a little more aggressive. Read more at The Baltimore Sun.