Ties are deceptive to make: it’s not just a narrow strip of fabric with a couple of folds, some stitches up the middle and colourful lining at each end; there are more components and precision hand-work than people realise.
The first choice that governs whether a tie is of good quality is the material from which it is made. A tie will be knotted and undone many times throughout its life, so must stretch only slightly and resist easy wrinkling.
For example, your cotton shirt-sleeves are creased for the rest of the day only after only five minutes with folded arms, but a tie worn to work is knotted all day and must not take a permanent crease when untied later on.
Many ties are shiny silk, but other fabrics are suitable. Tweed is rougher to the touch and resilient under repeated handling, so is also resistant to wrinkling. It also has a matte surface which is a little more sober and understated than many silk ties.
Important presentation coming up? You want them to remember you, not the tie.
This petrol blue tweed makes for a simple 3-fold tie: the two edges are a fold each and there is one more down the middle hidden just below the stitched seam along the back. Hidden inside is a layer of wool interfacing, running the whole length, supporting the main fabric and creating just the right amount of volume. Each end is tipped with turquoise silk lining and the seam down the entire length allows for movement as the knot is tightened.
All stitching is hand-work. Skill and precision are required to make each tip and since ties are a highly visible part of a business outfit, the slightest imperfection in stitching or a mis-shapen tip will be visible.
It will probably achieve the same effect as wearing unpolished shoes. We hope that not only did you polish your shoes, but that you don’t want to appear like you paid for a cheap tie.
Cut on the bias, interfaced, silk lined and hand-sewn, this tie is not cheap. It was not knocked-up in 30 minutes on a sewing machine.
It is a good example of Scottish fabrics suitable for a contemporary business-setting, which is what we are trying to achieve at Button Stance.
Until next time,
The Tailor
P.S. If you have a question/comment or would like to see more topic-related information published on the blog, feel free to email tailor@buttonstance.com
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