When my son was in medical school, a study came out about doctors' silk ties carrying germs," said founder and owner Judy Hill. That inspired her to create washable cotton versions with coated hardware to withstand repeated washings.
The company, sold in more than 275 stores in addition to its downtown Raleigh outposts, uses a boll weevil in its logo, and hosts an annual paisley design competition for students at NC State's design and textile colleges.
