Tell us about your business, its history, and how you build customer loyalty. For the greater part of the last 12 years, Tony owned and managed his own retail outlet. He actively promoted and sold prom, pageant and formalwear collections. During his time in retail, Tony also designed for Miss America and Miss USA contestants. Tony creates close relationships with his customers by working with the individual to learn her personality, taste, and style. After doing so, Tony offers design suggestions to help the customer’s style evolve. Our mission is to work with our customers to provide exceptional customer service while displaying cutting-edge fashion designs that are exciting and fun. We strive to have the highest quality while presenting our customers with attractive prices for every budget.
What divisions (e.g., Prom, Pageant, Social Occasion, Bridal, etc.) do you design for and market? Pageant, Prom, and Social Occasion.
What size ranges do you offer? All styles come in sizes 0 – 20, with select styles also available in sizes 22 – 26.
Please identify three characteristics about your designs that you are known for. Tony is known for his unique designs, creative strategies, and close attention to detail.
How do you keep your design ideas current? Tony is always present in the market place, learning about what consumers are interested in. He continues to listen to his customers and has the talent to take their input and create a unique look. He also finds inspiration in the textures and colors of fabrics. He finds that travel is always a constant, whether it be a trunk show, where retailers and their customers share their personalties and needs, or touring a textile factory that has a certain color combination that sparks a creative thought on a certain pattern for a bodice or skirt. He has come to realize that creativity is at its best when he just lets it happen or keeps an open mind during the search for an idea to fill someone’s needs.
As a designer, where do you receive the most satisfaction? Tony receives the most satisfaction when a customer loves a dress he designed specifically for her.
What fashion looks and fabric-usage trends do you predict will emerge in the coming year or two? With young contemporary as the major influence in today’s fashion, many aspects of social occasion looks are changing. For example, once informal denim is now being incorporated into more formal looks. Large hardware pieces that were once only used as functional buckles are now being used as accents pieces on couture designs. Overall glitz and fabrics with sheen are still holding true to what is en vogue.
What design trends do you predict will fade from the fashion scene? Traditional looks are taking a backseat to more contemporary styles that have edgier lines. Tight fitting garments are also fading as free form draping is making its way into more mainstream stores.
What aspects of the fashion business bring you the greatest satisfaction? First and foremost, satisfaction is seeing the product develop from the sketch to the pattern table to the beading swatch structure and ultimately the connection of all the elements that make up the first prototype. It’s also always thrilling to see a buyer or one of their clients choose a Tony Bowls style for one of the most important events in her life. Or when a celebrity stylist picks a gown that ends up being showcased on the red carpet. Many things run through my head when I think about the satisfaction of seeing a certain dress well received: fortunate, honored, blessed and those who know me, always outwardly excited!
