Ancient Madder silk
The Egyptians and Indians were already dyeing their fabrics with madder root. When Macclesfield became England's silk town in the 18th century, its printers adopted the root's muted palette: ochre, Bordeaux, olive and navy blue.
The process has endured. The silk retains some of its natural gum, giving Madder the matt, chalky feel that sets it apart from any glossy tie silk. To this day, it is printed almost exclusively in Macclesfield.
Silk ties
Some ties need a suit to carry them. These hold their own: firm silk with a sheen, patterns that look like texture from a distance and tell a story up close. Flowers from Campo de' Fiori, bridles from the stables, chains, medallions.
Each is named after a place in Italy and sewn by hand in Italy.
Garza Fina & Garza Grossa
Some men wear only plain-coloured ties. There is a reason why that need not be a limitation.
Grenadine is an open weave in which the colour lies within the fabric rather than on its surface. The same navy blue looks different in the morning and the evening. White turns silvery, black stays matt. Burgundy suggests earth rather than fruit.
Handwoven in Como, sewn by hand in Italy, 7-fold, unlined.
