NOVI, Michigan How do you solve an embarrassing problem with grace and style? You combine fashion with function and give it a French twist. That’s what Kathy Steck did with the Cravaat® by DinerWear®. She turned the “adult bib” into a fashion statement. This bib alternative is a fashionable scarf that protects your clothes from food spills, an idea that dates back to the 17th century when linen neckcloths were worn by Croatian mercenaries in the French army and were believed to be worn to cover shirts that were not immaculately clean or to protect them from getting dirty. Ever tuck a napkin in your shirt to avoid stains while eating? Emily Post says to keep it on your lap. Steck suggests you get yourself a Cravaat® instead. You’ll look more dignified.
Steck got the idea when a friend said, “Adults don’t want to wear bibs.” But she knew many adults succumbed to them. Her grandmother wore a lamiae one. But for as fancy as it was, it was still a bib. So Steck tapped into her creative juices and came up with a solution that looked nothing like those oversized child products. “I love to wear scarves,” Steck says, “and realized they cover the spill zone. But it had to be made with the right fabric in order to still be elegant while also being stain resistant and machine washable.” When she found the suede-like microfiber she’s currently using the Cravaat® was born.
Steck approached Executive Directors of senior living communities to confirm the need. What she got was a resounding yes (plus another product design and her first order. Go to www.Cravaat.com to see more styles.) It wasn’t long before she discovered another customer base - woman who wanted to protect “the shelf.” Then there was the mom who bought a scarf for her daughter who had been injured in a car accident and hated the idea of having to wear a bib. And the woman whose husband took to wearing the Cravaat® to protect his business clothes from their spaghetti dinner. Even Steck’s eight-year-old nephew, who is a master at spills, has saved more than one shirt, proving it’s a great solution for every age, and saving her sister from a lot of laundry headaches because it’s a lot easier to wash the Cravaat® then a tie.
The Cravaat® is made in the U.S.A. and retails for only $24.95, which is well worth the cost of the clothes it saves. It comes in an elegant organza bag or a sleek vinyl pouch, great for gift giving and making it easy to take with you wherever you eat. Find it at www.Cravaat.com.
Contact:
Kathy Steck
(631) 371-1844
21526 Chase Dr.
Novi, MI 48375
