Favorite Tie

[Guest]

With the many good tie makers, who makes your favorite tie and what does it look like?

[Guest]

THere are many iconic tie makers: Charvet (France), Marinella (Italy), Drakes (U.K.) each with an individual style. You won't go wrong with any of these.

In this regard, I surprised to read that Drakes is consider one of the most desireable luxury brands for men in Japan along with Patek Phillippe and Hermes. I had no idea that they had such a high and popular reputation.

[Guest]

They don't make them anymore. They don't even exist as a firm anymore. But I still have a few: Sulka ties - glorious and, dare I say - untouchable.
NJS

[Guest]

I wonder where Sulka where made; was in the UK and made in-house? Somebody must have hired those makers?

[Guest]

Gentlemen -

My ties are from Robert Talbott, Ben Silver, Brooks Brothers, Hermes, Ferragamo, Charvet, Stefano Ricci, Ralph Lauren, Ike Behar, Vineyard Vines, Brioni, etc. Hermes ties do not hold up well. For the whimsical look, I prefer Vineyard Vines to Hermes - for half the price. Overall, I like Robert Talbott's consistency.

I recently retired my favorite tie - a solid silver Ben Silver twill - because of old age (the end/tip had become frayed). The tie was probably 15 years old. The label read that it was made of pure English silk. It knotted perfectly from the first wearing.

Apparently Ben Silver no longer carries this tie. They carry other solid silver ties (grenadine, etc.), but not twill. I tried replacing it with a sold silver Brooks Brothers tie to no avail.

Despite how many ties one acquires, precious few stick. So long old boy. I lament losing you. Your restrained resplendence is missed!

Trey

[Guest]

I wonder where Sulka where made; was in the UK and made in-house? Somebody must have hired those makers?

Amos Sulka founded the firm in New York and it became international. I believ that the London staff (or some of them) went to Dunhill.
NJS

[Guest]

A Knize light gold "wedding" tie. Unfortunately, I only feel right trotting it out for weddings.

[Guest]

I wonder where Sulka where made; was in the UK and made in-house? Somebody must have hired those makers?

At one time, Sulka had custom tie makers and/or people making ties in the various countries (US, France, UK) where it had shops. Towards the end the Sulka ties were made in France, I believe by the company Boivin (but I could be wrong). Whoever was making them did make the special diamond-shaped reinforced area. I haven't seen that on any non-Sulka ties.

[Guest]

I wonder where Sulka where made; was in the UK and made in-house? Somebody must have hired those makers?

At one time, Sulka had custom tie makers and/or people making ties in the various countries (US, France, UK) where it had shops. Towards the end the Sulka ties were made in France, I believe by the company Boivin (but I could be wrong). Whoever was making them did make the special diamond-shaped reinforced area. I haven't seen that on any non-Sulka ties.

^RJ

[Guest]

I've enjoyed wearing Robert Talbott quite a bit because their woven ties give a nice knot, drape, and dimple.

Other ties I've worn have included some from the Alan Flusser shop, Brooks Brothers, Richel, Ralph Lauren, one Sulka, one Stefano Ricci, one Paul Stuart, two Breuers, three Brionis a couple of Vineyard Vines, and Turnbull & Asser.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[Guest]

ODE TO A LONG LOST TIE

O tie you are gone, but yet not forgotten
Your tip was frayed, but not quite rotten.

I wore you many times, through thick and thin.
If I wore you one time I wore you ten.

Perhaps I wore you too much and even too often.
Perhaps that is why your tip finally softened.

It softened and it frayed, but you never betrayed
And you stayed and you stayed until your last frayed day.

So I bid a fond farewell. A sentimental “adieu”.
And I hope that one day I will find my way back to you.

Trey

[Guest]

Trey,

Clearly this is a tie with more than sentimental value for you. If only the tip was frayed, there may be hope yet. I have had a handful of favorite ties resurrected by Tiecrafters. Turning a frayed tip under was one of the more successful operations. Even their cleaning often works because they disassemble the tie to clean and press it and then reassemble (so it isn't pressed flat). Their prices are reasonable and they do business by mail (I dropped my ties off in person and had them shipped back). One or two of mine were so far gone they didn't come out well enough to meet my wearing standards, but most did. Worth a try, perhaps?

- Couch

[Guest]

ODE TO A LONG LOST TIE

O tie you are gone, but yet not forgotten
Your tip was frayed, but not quite rotten.

I wore you many times, through thick and thin.
If I wore you one time I wore you ten.

Perhaps I wore you too much and even too often.
Perhaps that is why your tip finally softened.

It softened and it frayed, but you never betrayed
And you stayed and you stayed until your last frayed day.

So I bid a fond farewell. A sentimental “adieu”.
And I hope that one day I will find my way back to you.

Trey

The London Lounge's poet laureate?

[Guest]

^pvpatty

[Guest]

Trey,
I add my voice to Save The Tie
NJS