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The Entrepreneurial Evolution: What Happened To Rock Avenue Bow Ties And Malcolm Jenkins’ Fashion Empire

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Rock Avenue Bow Ties, once a niche men's accessory line founded by former NFL star Malcolm Jenkins, has become a fascinating case study in athlete entrepreneurship, demonstrating a successful pivot from a focused product to a comprehensive fashion and investment portfolio. As of December 23, 2025, the legacy of Rock Avenue Bow Ties lives on, not just as a standalone brand, but as the foundational step that launched Jenkins’ much larger and more ambitious business ventures, including a luxury menswear boutique and a venture capital fund. The story is one of vision, taking the initial success of a stylish neckwear line and expanding it into a complete lifestyle brand.

The company’s name itself is a tribute to the founder's roots, named after the street Malcolm Jenkins grew up on, symbolizing a commitment to authentic self-expression and giving back. While the original bow tie brand may have transitioned, its spirit of blending high fashion with personal narrative remains central to Jenkins' current business identity, creating a powerful topical authority in the intersection of sports, style, and finance.

Malcolm Jenkins: The Founder's Complete Profile and Biography

Malcolm Jenkins is an American former professional football safety who established a formidable reputation both on and off the field. His career spanned 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and included multiple Super Bowl victories and Pro Bowl selections. However, his influence extends far beyond the gridiron, making him a major figure in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and social justice advocacy.

  • Full Name: Malcolm Jenkins
  • Born: December 20, 1987
  • Place of Birth: Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
  • Education: Ohio State University (Major: Communications)
  • NFL Career: 2009–2021 (New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles)
  • Super Bowl Championships: 2 (Super Bowl XLIV with Saints, Super Bowl LII with Eagles)
  • Pro Bowl Selections: 3 (2015, 2017, 2018)
  • Awards: 2016 Alan Page Award, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
  • Fraternity: Omega Psi Phi
  • Spouse: Morrisa Jenkins
  • Initial Business Venture: Rock Avenue Bow Ties (Launched 2013)
  • Current Business Ventures: Co-Founder of Damari Savile (Luxury Menswear), Co-Founder of Broad Street Ventures (Venture Capital Fund), CEO of Malcolm Inc., The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation.

Jenkins' commitment to his community and his business acumen were evident even during his playing days, positioning him as a rare athlete who successfully transitioned his public platform into a sustainable, multi-faceted business empire. His middle name, Damari, would later become the name of his expanded fashion house, highlighting a personal connection to his entrepreneurial journey.

The Genesis of Rock Avenue Bow Ties: Style and Purpose

The origin of Rock Avenue Bow Ties in 2013 was born out of Jenkins’ personal frustration with the lack of unique, high-quality men’s accessories available to athletes and professionals. While playing for the New Orleans Saints, Jenkins often sought out distinctive neckwear and pocket squares to express his personal style, a common practice among NFL players who use game-day arrivals as a fashion runway.

The brand was initially focused on creating bold, custom-designed bow ties and pocket squares that stood out from traditional, mass-produced options. Designs ranged from sophisticated velvet textures to vibrant, printed numbers and timeless textiles, quickly establishing a reputation for being "dope" and fashionable.

Key Features and Entities of the Original Brand:

  • Product Focus: Self-tie bow ties, pocket squares, and neckwear.
  • Design Philosophy: Blending classic silhouettes with modern, unique fabrics (velvet, printed silk, lace).
  • Inspiration: Named after Rock Avenue, the street Jenkins grew up on in Piscataway, NJ, grounding the luxury brand in his humble beginnings.
  • Early Traction: The brand gained significant attention within the NFL community and was featured in publications like Sports Illustrated, where Jenkins was named to the Fashionable 50 list.

This initial venture was more than just a clothing line; it was a proof of concept. Jenkins demonstrated that his personal brand and discerning eye for style could be monetized, setting the stage for a much larger retail operation.

The Evolution to Damari Savile and Broad Street Ventures

The limited focus of Rock Avenue Bow Ties eventually led to its expansion into a full-service menswear company. Jenkins recognized that his customer base was looking for more than just accessories; they desired a complete, custom wardrobe. This realization sparked the creation of his next major venture.

The Launch of Damari Savile

In a pivotal move, Jenkins partnered with a tailoring expert, Eric White, who was also his Omega Psi Phi frat brother, to launch Damari Savile. Damari Savile is a luxury custom menswear boutique based in Philadelphia, offering bespoke suits, shirts, and, crucially, a continuation of the high-end accessories that Rock Avenue pioneered. The name "Damari" is Jenkins' middle name, signifying a deeper, more personal investment in the brand.

The launch of Damari Savile effectively broadened the scope of Jenkins’ fashion business, absorbing the spirit and design ethos of Rock Avenue Bow Ties. While the original Rock Avenue name may not be the primary consumer-facing brand today, its DNA is embedded in Damari Savile's commitment to custom, expressive, and high-quality accessories.

The Leap into Venture Capital

The entrepreneurial journey did not stop with fashion. In a major move to diversify his portfolio and empower other Black and Brown investors, Malcolm Jenkins co-founded Broad Street Ventures (BSV). This $10 million venture capital fund, named after a famous street in Philadelphia, focuses on investing in high-growth companies. This demonstrates Jenkins’ long-term strategy of building generational wealth and financial literacy, a mission he often discusses through his foundation and public speaking.

The transition from a bow tie company to a VC fund shows an incredible scale-up in business ambition. Rock Avenue Bow Ties was the initial spark, a low-barrier entry into the world of business ownership, which provided the experience, capital, and confidence necessary to tackle larger, more complex financial endeavors.

Topical Authority and Legacy: The Impact of Rock Avenue

The true legacy of Rock Avenue Bow Ties is its role in establishing Malcolm Jenkins as a serious entrepreneur. It serves as a powerful entity within the larger topic of athlete-led businesses and fashion innovation. The brand’s initial success helped to define several key themes:

  • Athlete Entrepreneurship: Jenkins proved that professional sports careers can be a launchpad for sustainable business ventures, moving beyond simple endorsements.
  • Niche Market Domination: By focusing on unique, high-end bow ties, the brand carved out a profitable niche before expanding into a full-service custom tailoring house (Damari Savile).
  • Social Impact Integration: Jenkins’ businesses, including the original bow tie line, often tie back to his philanthropic efforts through The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, emphasizing a "bow ties that give back" philosophy.

In 2025, the story of Rock Avenue Bow Ties is a chapter in a much larger, ongoing narrative of a successful businessman. The bow ties themselves—the velvet, the printed silks, the bold designs—are now seen as collectible pieces of fashion history, representing the moment an NFL star decided to bet on his own style and vision, ultimately leading him to the world of luxury retail and high finance. The brand remains a key entity in understanding the full scope of Malcolm Jenkins' powerful and evolving business portfolio.

The Entrepreneurial Evolution: What Happened to Rock Avenue Bow Ties and Malcolm Jenkins’ Fashion Empire
rock avenue bow ties
rock avenue bow ties

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