For Cravats' owner Henry “Hank” Battie, fashion has always been a part of his DNA. He enjoys telling the story of how he began buying his own clothes at the tender age of nine. With the money earned from part-time jobs after school and on weekends, he made great use of stores’ layaway plans. That way, he says, he could always afford the best. As he was and remains drawn to quality, it explains his philosophy on the subject. “If you have to look for quality and something, you won’t find it because quality has a way of standing out,” is the way he puts it.

 

When launching the Cravats' atelier in 1990, he explained that quality was at the forefront of his philosophy and will remain his mainstay until the end. With a focus on custom clothing and shirts that he defines as “World-class tailoring without compromise,” the studio also offers an eclectic array a men’s haberdashery that includes neckties/cravats, bowties, scarves, ascots, belts, braces, hosiery, pocket adornments/handkerchiefs, jewelry, shoes, small leather goods, and other men’s items for special order and design.

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Located at 1530 Dolphin St. in the Burns Square area of downtown Sarasota, personal services include wardrobe evaluation and coordination. For the fashion-conscious or fashion-challenged, their “Jah’Noah” label offers head to toe ensembles that Battie describes as “synergy in wardrobe creations,” or as he likes to say, “Put your faith in our good taste.”

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As Cravats' owner and fashion director, Battie has spent the past 44 years in the men’s wear industry. With a beginning in 1974 at one of St. Armands Circle’s finest men’s stores to the past 31 years at the helm of Cravats', fashion has indeed been a huge part of his life and as you said, obviously a part of his DNA. With years of membership in the prestigious and oldest men’s fashion organization in the world, the Custom Tailors and Designers Association, he was awarded the group’s highest honor of Master Custom Clothier/Designer in 2008. In addition to the superb products and customer service that has become the hallmark of Cravats', it has also shown a propensity to support many and various charitable organizations throughout Sarasota county.