One of the most neglected areas of tie collecting is Handmade/Homemade. These are two distinct types, actually, and perhaps could be categorized into three.
I would distinguish "Handmade" as those ties that are made by individual craftspeople who sell them at fairs, art shows, craft shows, or through consignment shops, and perhaps even through internet outlets such as on line stores. The key here is that this is a small business with one or very few people actually making the ties and reaping the profits. Designers sending their styles to sweat shops for mass production don't count, so often these are one of a kind or very limited edition styles. They often have a label indicating the name of a small business or individual. Here's a tie I sold on Ebay some time ago, that had a hand written label. This tie was cotton and the design is very crisp.
I would distinguish "Handmade" as those ties that are made by individual craftspeople who sell them at fairs, art shows, craft shows, or through consignment shops, and perhaps even through internet outlets such as on line stores. The key here is that this is a small business with one or very few people actually making the ties and reaping the profits. Designers sending their styles to sweat shops for mass production don't count, so often these are one of a kind or very limited edition styles. They often have a label indicating the name of a small business or individual. Here's a tie I sold on Ebay some time ago, that had a hand written label. This tie was cotton and the design is very crisp.
"Home-made", on the other hand, would be those ties fashioned by a home-maker and given as gifts or made as a matter of course for wear by the men of the family. These often have no labels, and a definite "home-made" look because of the obvious skill level, or lack of skill. These can still be quite entertaining, particularly when the choice of fabric is interesting. Ties of this ilk may have been made without a pattern; through trial and error, the maker figured it out. The tie below has no interior padding or body...completely unlined. The end of the tie has a finishing stitch much like a hem, very much a technique of the 1930s. There is no label, and this, although I have worn it, appears to be someone;s first effort and maybe even made in a home-economics class. It's definitely from the late 1960s early 1970s and is a wide tie. It's a polyester fabric with a nice weight and feel.
Another type, though I havent yet come across any, are those that are made from commercial patterns. I did recently find an example of a 1971 McCalls pattern for neckties on Ebay.
This pattern is from 1970
Another type, though I havent yet come across any, are those that are made from commercial patterns. I did recently find an example of a 1971 McCalls pattern for neckties on Ebay.
This pattern is from 1970
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