What Makes Our Ties So Special?
Every gentleman knows, no modern smart outfit is complete without a statement tie. It adds a degree of sophistication and elegance to finish off your jacket and shirting combination. Often associated with formal wear, the right tie can also be used in more ways than one to differentiate your outfit.
Below we discover what makes our handmade ties so special...
Shop the Collection: Handmade Ties
HANDMADE IN ENGLAND
A handmade tie is generally made from quality fabrics, with the interlining selected for the particular fabric and fold construction. We carefully select our interlinings based on the individual fabric being used, which ensures the perfect balance of weight and movement to prevent creasing.
THE FINEST FABRICS
Ties are made from many different fabrics and fabric blends, but the most classic known fibres within menswear are silk and wool, particularly in winter and lighter fabrics in summer such as linen and cotton. We choose to work with only the finest fabrics to make our ties, with our key attributes being textures, colours and weight.
Cashmere and thicker wools are perfect for Autumn & Winter season. The thick fabric and textures match the earthy tones often found in these months such as greens, brown and deep reds. Heavy wool ties make a substantial knot that lends itself perfectly to a heavier wool or tweed jacket.
Our wool and cashmere fabrics are woven in the UK from the world renowned Fox Fabrics and Scabal. We also only work with the finest silk, printed in Macclesfield, England, an area that traces its history of textile production back hundreds of years.
OUR FAVOURITE HANDMADE TIE INFLUENCER LOOKS
Menswear Blogger - Linus Norrbom - Sweden
We love the outfit below from Linus as it’s a truly autumnal look with a smart exterior but with subtle choices to add a casual flair. In this instance, the shirt paired is a denim twill base, which works superbly with our Chestnut Brown Wool/Cashmere Tie.
Menswear Blogger -The Sartorial Finn - Finland
Pattern ties can easily scare people off as they need the right level of complimentary colours to pair with the rest of your outfit. Below our good friend at The Sartorial Finn combines the Navy Blue and Bronze Silk Twill Tie superbly with a grey check suit jacket and dark charcoal trousers, keeping the whole outfit dark in mood and colour hues.
Menswear Blogger - Nicke Nystrom - Sweden
We speak at lengths on our Journal around how to wear and style a navy jacket and we feel below choice from Nicke is perfect formalwear relaxed attire. Wearing our Chocolate Glen Check Merino Wool Tie this tie works perfectly which his notch lapel relaxed navy jacket. The shirt choice is a button down Oxford in an off-white to complete an easy and timeless sartorial look.
Menswear Blogger - Dapper Classic - United Kingdom
Stripped ties are truly a thing of beauty, and we offer a vast range across wool, shantung silk and cashmere in our collection. Sem at Dapper Classic has paired this Red and Navy Blue Striped Silk Tie brilliantly with the blue tones in his jacket and shirt choice. As the jacket has a textured weave running through, the flat surface of the tie means the stripe is prominent but not over bearing. Bravo!
WHAT ARE OUR HANDMADE TIES MADE UP OF?
Even though the tie is one of the most minor cloth accessories within menswear fashion, it has many parts and intricate components to make up this classic pointed design. What are the main components of a tie?
The Shell
The shell is the outer layer of fabric used on the tie; as discussed previously with our range of premium fabrics, these are traditionally cotton, silk, wool or linens. Ties are usually meant to be cut on the “true bias” of the fabric. This means that it will be cut at a 45-degree angle, ensuring that the tie lays flat when worn and generally stays wrinkle-free. In addition, bias cutting softens the fabric's drape, which means skill is required to fold the tie and create a beautiful shape around the interlining.
Interlining
This is the fabric lined into the inside of the blade, hidden between the layers of the ties outer shell. Interlining helps create and maintain the tie's shape and adds extra bulk and weight, and is specific to each tie shell fabric, fold and style, part of the handmade process. Interlinings are crucial to keep and maintain the classic shape and hold of your tie.
Tipping
Tipping is the fabric sewn onto the backside of the tip and tail of the tie. There are three methods to finishing tips: un-tipped, self-tipped, and decorative tipping. Self-tipping is matched to the shell fabric and design, while decorative tipping includes having an extra fabric pattern of print for a highlight colour.
Keeper/Tie Loop
This is the extra piece of fabric, small in width, that is sewn into the backside of the tie blade. It has a functional use, whereby the tail of your tie should go through the loop to help keep the smart shape and tail out of sight.
5 TIES EVERY GENTLEMAN NEEDS THIS SEASON
What type of tie should I wear? This season is all about getting out again and looking your best. Below we give you our absolute favourites from the Rampley & Co collection to dress up or down your workwear or smart occasion dressing.
1. Navy Prince of Wales 100% Merino Wool tie - we adore this versatile and well rounded option and is entirely handmade in England using fabric from the world-renowned Fox Brothers & Co. The classic Prince of Wales pattern in navy tones is a crisp, dry worsted cloth, and provides a subtle texture and firm structure. One of the most famous of the traditional British patterns, this tie works beautifully with most jackets.
2. Charcoal Basketweave 100% Merino Wool tie - Greys work with just about all jackets and shirting as a colour family as they are cool, soft and easy on the eye. This traditional pattern has a weave reminiscent of wicker basket wear, from which it draws its name.
3. Steel Blue and Gold Medallion Silk Twill tie - We love a patterned tie, and this rich, jewelled toned geometric option will see you through any party season. It provides a subtle addition to an outfit and can be used in both casual and formal occasions as well as matching with a variety of more exciting and colourful pocket square designs.
4. Navy & White Striped Shantung Silk tie part of our Shantung range, this tie is handmade in England with Italian woven Shantung silk. Perfect for any occasion dressing, this fine and luxurious fabric add texture and sophistication to any outfit. The weaving of thicker yarns into the silk results in a tie that is truly unique, while the texture also lends itself perfectly to a more casual look.
5.Chestnut Brown Wool-Cashmere blend tie brown seems to be the trend colour of the sartorial season, with its warm tones and versatile use, we think this will be one of our best sellers. The blend of wool and cashmere makes for a supremely soft finish to the tie, that will work particularly well with any navy jacket.
Read our Pocket Square Guide 2021
Shop the Collection: Handmade TiesWHAT MAKES OUR TIES SO SPECIAL?
1. All our ties are handmade in England by tie makers with decades of experience producing the finest ties. This ensures that each tie is entirely unique as well as being produced to an exceptionally high standard. We carefully select our interlinings based on the individual fabric being used, which ensures the perfect balance of weight and movement to prevent creasing.
2. We choose to work with only the finest fabrics to make our ties. Our wool and cashmere fabrics are woven in the UK from the world renowned Fox Fabrics and Scabal. We also only work with the finest silk, printed in Macclesfield, England, an area that traces its history of textile production back hundreds of years.
3. Our ties are produced as a classic 3-fold tie with a self-tipped finish, which provides a nice weight while not using an excessive amount of fabric. Self-tipping is widely considered as a finer way to finish a tie, where the back of the blade is made from the same fabric as the tie itself. Self-tipped ties are generally found on premium quality neckwear due to the higher cost of production.
4. We produce our ties with the versatile dimensions of an 8cm (3.15 inches) wide blade and 150cm (59 inches) long. This ensures our ties will pair nicely with the width of most jacket lapels. We also add a stretch loop while slipping the tie, a continuous piece of thread that allows the fabric to move when worn. This special stitch is another indicator that a tie is handmade.
