Artisan Silk Tie Guide: A Meaningful Gift for Him
Trinh HaiQuick answer: An artisan silk tie makes a meaningful gift because the pattern is woven into the cloth by jacquard weaving instead of printed on top, so it feels and drapes differently from a mass-produced tie. Our silk neckties start at $142, boxed and with import duty already paid.
What makes an artisan silk tie a meaningful gift?
The pattern is woven into the cloth rather than printed on top of it. That is the whole difference, and he can feel it the first time he runs a thumb along the tie: a slightly raised surface, a small weight at the knot, a design that is the same on every side of the thread.
Most men who are hard to buy for already own a drawer of ties that are fine and forgettable. A woven tie with a story behind the motif gives him something to say when someone at a dinner asks where it came from.
How is a jacquard tie different from a printed one?
On a jacquard loom, thousands of colored threads are lifted and crossed in a programmed order, so the pattern is built into the fabric itself. A printed tie starts as plain cloth and has the design applied afterward, which usually reads flatter and can fade at the folds.
Our ties are jacquard woven in 100% mulberry silk and made in our Hanoi atelier. Each is 3.1 in (8 cm) wide and 57 in (145 cm) long, a width that sits correctly on almost every lapel. If you want the long version of the comparison, Jacquard vs Printed Silk Ties walks through it side by side, and How Are Silk Ties Made? covers the steps.
What do the motifs on the tie mean?
The motifs come from Vietnam's Ly Dynasty (1009 to 1225), when the court in Thang Long, today's Hanoi, carved dragons and lotus into its buildings and pottery. The crimson dragon tie carries a dragon of that period, drawn as a wish for strength, wisdom and success. The lotus stands for purity and for rising clean out of mud.
You do not need to explain any of this to him. The story card in the box does it, and he can repeat as much or as little as he likes. For the full reading of each design, see What Vietnamese Silk Motifs Mean.
Choosing by occasion makes this easier. For a formal event or a first week in a new job, a quiet woven pattern in navy or deep red is rarely wrong; for an anniversary or birthday, a motif with a story gives him something to mention when he wears it. Our silk neckties start at $142, and silk gifts for him gathers pieces that are ready to hand over, boxed and with import duty already paid. Quote BLOG5 at checkout for 5% off.
When is a silk tie the right gift?
It suits three moments well. An anniversary, because silk is the traditional gift for the 12th year. A promotion or a new job, because a tie is something he can wear on the first Monday. And a corporate gift, where a boxed woven tie reads as chosen rather than ordered in bulk.
It suits one moment badly: a man who has not worn a tie in ten years. For him, look at the other pieces in silk gifts for him. Our honest limit is price. Our silk neckties start at $142, which is not a gift for every budget.
Our pick if you are unsure
Choose a quiet pattern in navy or deep red, and let the story do the talking. A subtle woven motif goes with a navy suit, a charcoal suit and a white shirt, so it works whatever he owns. If he likes something bolder, the crimson dragon is a safe step up.
How can you tell real silk from a blend?
Check three things you can do without a lab. Look at the sheen: real silk shows a soft glow that shifts with the light, while polyester gives a hard, flat shine. Feel it: silk is smooth and slightly cool, and it warms in your hand. Hang it over your arm: silk falls in a heavy, fluid line, and a blend tends to stand stiff.
Our promise on the material is simple: 100% mulberry silk, and the weight and grade we quote are what our supplier specifies. For more on how we describe the cloth, read about Folk Form.
How should he care for it?
Dry clean only, and never a rinse. When he takes it off, he should untie the knot in the reverse order he tied it, then hang the tie or roll it loosely. Pulling it through the knot stretches the weave.
Delivery and returns
Orders leave Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and reach a US address 9 to 15 business days later. Import duty is already paid, shipping is free from $90, and you have 30 days to return it unworn in the original box. Order a few weeks ahead of any date that matters.
Artisan Silk Tie Guide: what people ask
Is a silk tie a good anniversary gift for him?
Yes. Silk is the traditional gift for the 12th anniversary, and a woven artisan silk tie is a lasting reminder he can wear. Choose a motif with a story so he has something to mention when he wears it.
What is the difference between a jacquard and a printed silk tie?
A jacquard tie is woven, so thousands of colored threads build the pattern into the fabric and create a textured surface. A printed tie has the pattern applied on top of the cloth and tends to look flatter.
How can I tell if a tie is real silk?
Look for a deep, multidimensional luster rather than a flat, harsh shine, and feel for a smooth, slightly cool surface. Real silk also drapes in a fluid, heavy way, while inferior blends look stiff and crease easily.
How much do your silk ties cost?
Our silk neckties start at $142. They arrive ready to give, with import duty already paid so there are no fees at delivery, and free shipping applies from $90.
