If there was a chance for your big idea to become a reality, would you grasp that opportunity, take a risk, and try to execute it to the best of your ability?

Senior Scott Waters co-founded his own bowtie company after his friend Patrick Evans, a freshman at Hampden Sydney College, won an entrepreneurship competition.

The company was formed into an online store and eventually named Evans on the Waters, which ties into each of their last names.

“We had $1000 to get started on the company after [Evans] won the entrepreneurship contest,” Waters said. “We then bought a bunch of fabric, started to sew, we both had sewing experience, and started Evans on the Waters. The name was created because Evans is a type of sailboat and Waters is my last name. Thus, it became Evans on the Waters.”

From the beginning, Evans on the Waters was designed to be a bow tie company. However, it has since been expanded to custom t-shirts and girl’s hair bows.

“We hand make everything ourselves except the printed t-shirts,” Waters said. “Making the clothes involves a lot of cutting, pinning, and sewing. The fabrics are ordered from local stores and wholesale online. Along with other fabrics, we also have some vintage fabrics accessible to costumers through our website.”

The prices of Evans on the Waters items are as followed: Belle Bows, girl’s hair bows, are $5, bow ties are $35, and all custom t-shirts are $20.

Evans on the Waters’ main customers have mostly derived from college students. Orders for any of the company’s items can be made on the website and their contact information is also available online.

“The majority of our products are sold online to college students,” Evans said. “We have also sold at many venues, which are day-long or weekend-long events, where 15 percent of our proceeds go to help a school or charity.”

In addition, Evans on the Waters has sold a few items within the Seahawk community. Senior Olivia Wolfe purchased a bowtie for one of her close friends.

“I have known Scott since I was little and I think that his company has been doing well,” Wolfe said. “I wanted to make a present for some one so I had Scott custom make a bowtie for me. I am really impressed by the company and how
professional all of the items look. Everyone who works at the company seems to really enjoy it.”

On the website, Evans and Waters post pictures of all their products as well as provide back ground information about the history behind the company.

Evans has high hopes involving positive changes for Evans on the Waters in the near future.

“Within the next year, we hope to expand to neck ties, more designs for pocket t-shirts, and more women’s accessories,” Evans said. “Another goal that we have is to sell the highest quality American-made products on the market.”

To see some of Evans on the Waters merchandise, visit their website at www.evansonthewatersclothes.com.