What's a Spitalfields tie?

[Luca]

I've seen numerous references to it here but never a definition and my google-fu is not working apparently.
I know all abotu the silk weaving traditionally done around here (I work close by) but the references seem to imply some sort of distinctive material or pattern.

[JScott]

From a styleforum post by Manton: "Macclesfield refers first to a tie made from silk woven in that parish. It has also come to mean any similarly woven silk, no matter where it is made. Traditionally, Macclesfield silk is made in tight woven patterns, with relatively small designs...There is another parish called Spitalsfield, which is in East London, where they make (or used to make) a similar kind of woven silk. Traditionally, a Spitalsfield design has a larger scale than a Macclesfield."

I believe they also typically have a twill weave and come in black and silver. I had always thought of them as wedding ties.

[Luca]

Thanks. Next time I'm in a tie shop of some quality I'll ask to see one.
Interestingly, Drake's current factory is not very far from Spitalfields.