And as autumn approaches, fashion completes another seasonal cycle. And we wait in great anticipation for new styles freshly watered down from the catwalks. New designers emerge while others fade. And so another turbulent season approaches. Buyers have to keep their wits alert, fashion rises and falls as quickly as the tide. The online shop I buy for, developing a theme is as important as selecting the appropriate brand names and styles. The theme, “made in England” it goes against the grain as more and more brands head east to reduce production costs.
If you’re looking for value, there is always something new and exciting, but not easy to find. “Made in England” individuality and originality need not cost a fortune, so if your budget is a little tight, don’t be concerned, because there are brand names that cater to your needs, at the right price.
One prime example is Timothy Everest a long time emerging Savile Row tailor, a name to remember. His
designer silk ties (Spitalfield Flower) impress upon you the conservatism expected of Savile Row, but without loosing a hint of originality, affordable luxury best describes Timothy’s ties, made in England with the Savile Row stamp of approval, all this for £45.00.
Moving slightly away from the conservative tone of Savile Row, and across the Thames River to Battersea, we take a look at Ian Flaherty, a man of substantial artistic talent. Already renowned world wide for his vibrant cufflink designs, he uses pure English Pewter, Swarovski Crystals and brilliant enamels. His
designer silk ties strike a similar chord; they reflect Ian’s artistry through colour arrangement and symmetry. Slightly more expensive than Timothy Everest at £59.00, all his designs are produced in limited quantities and handmade in London. They’re sure to give many years good knottage.
And to a more unlikely candidate:
designer silk ties. She has ventured down every road from designing evening gowns to crockery for Wedgwood. Three times winner of “fashion designer of the year” and awarded DBE in 2006 for her contribution to the fashion industry. Vivienne’s ties are as original as you can get without being garish novelties. In August her spring summer collection will be on display. The big surprise is her cufflinks they’re as refreshing as a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day. Vivienne has garnered much respect over the years.
As autumn approaches I look forward to spring summer, not to welcome the warm weather but to welcome the arrival of the new collections of some of my favourite brands. “English made true to my theme.
Closing anecdote: In the 1920s a pioneering Paris fashion designer, Jean Patou, invented the designer tie. He made ties from women's clothing material including patterns inspired by the latest art movements of the day, Cubism and Art Deco.
Targeted toward women purchasers, his expensive ties were highly successful. Today women buy 80 percent of ties sold in the US. Therefore ties are often displayed near the perfume or women's clothing departments.
Designer ties made quite a splash in the 1960s, when designers from London's Carnaby Street devised the Peacock Look and churned out wide, colourful ties in a variety of flowered, abstract and psychedelic patterns. Know mod (for modern) styles were the forerunners of the hippie movement, which often dispensed with neckties altogether, often favouring colourful scarves at the neck, or wearing open shirts with chains or medallions.
