With a mission to find loving homes for animals in shelters, young entrepreneur Darius Brown is crafting bow ties with style and hope. At the tender age of 14, he believes these luxurious accessories will help more pets find their forever families.
With an irresistible puppy in front of them, most people are helpless to say no. But if that same pup is wearing a bowtie? Forget about it; resistance is futile!
Sir Darius Brown, known for his presence on social media, is usually seen rocking a bow tie. “I’m rarely without it!” he exclaims with enthusiasm. Everywhere he goes – the store, school, or even church – Sir Darius wears a bow tie proudly.
When his older sister started taking classes in cosmetology school at the age of eight, it marked the beginning for Brown. At two years old he had been diagnosed with delays in comprehension, speech, and fine motor skills; however, helping out with the sewing projects his sister was involved in seemed to be beneficial for him.
His sister shared with The Today Show that due to his limited control of fine motor skills, it was hard for him to even tie a shoe. His mother and sister then came up with an idea: instead of just waiting for his hands to improve on their own, why not help them along by allowing him to assist in prepping ribbon or cutting fabric? It proved successful; his dexterity began improving as he participated in more activities like these!
Brown was captivated by his passion for bow ties, and eventually, it expanded to include his beloved pets. After creating hundreds of stylish ties – each one carefully crafted with love- he donated them all to animal shelters across the United States.
Brown stressed to Today that dying their fur gives the dogs an undeniable cuteness and increases their odds of finding a family who can offer them a lifetime of love. She shared her deep admiration for all creatures, expressing enthusiasm about both cats and dogs.
Brown has started his very own organization, dubbed Beaux and Paws, to help fund the production of more ties. Through generous donations from kind-hearted individuals who support Brown’s mission, he was able to secure fabric and supplies at no cost! His mother told Today that “the donations were a huge relief since we had been using our own money for all the materials”. To make this wonderful project even greater than it already is, Brown now utilizes GoFundMe as an avenue to bring his “paw-some” vision to fruition.
Moreover, Sir Darius has done incredible work. During the pandemic, he crafted more than 100 face coverings for essential workers and those who are homeless; not to mention that he also designed koala mittens to help treat Koalas hurt by the Australian bushfires. He wishes to keep raising awareness of pet adoption, discovering fresh methods of assisting animal shelters, and inspiring young people to volunteer at these establishments.
Not only has the preteen’s work been recognized, but he even received a letter of commendation from former President Barack Obama in 2018.
Dear Darius,
I was so inspired by your story that I wanted to connect with you and congratulate you on your extraordinary commitment to volunteerism. From setting up the foundation of Beaux and Paws to making a positive impact in people’s lives around you—it is evident how much pride and satisfaction this brings into your life! You are doing an incredible job devoting yourself to others and should be immensely proud of all that you have achieved.
If you remain active in your community, constantly seek out ways to help those around you, and never give up on yourself, I’m certain our future will shine brilliantly. Please know that I am supporting everything that you do from the sidelines and sending my best wishes for success.
Well done, Sir Darius! Keep up the inspiring work.
Please ‘SHARE’ this story with a friend or family member!