blog

How to Care for Ties

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:57:56 +0100

Ideally ties should be dry cleaned and in fact ties with any silk content must be dry cleaned, but modern polyesters are much more able to take the strains of washing.

Whilst we would always recommend hand washing and drip drying, if it is important that the ties can be machine washed we are able to offer some polyester qualities which do not deteriorate with this.

It is always ironing which ruins ties. If they are pressed too hard they will flatten and the fabric will shine. If pressing is needed, use a clean cotton fabric over the tie and carefully and lightly press over this.

How are designs woven into fabric?

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:51:49 +0100

This is an extremely complex process.

Technology has speeded things up but it still depends on the training and flair of the Jacquard maker.

The jacquard is the instruction sheet for the loom on your design and is a representation of your design in stitch form. Each part of your design is transferred into stitches or 'picks' so that when the Jacquard is on the loom the correct colour yarns are used and a bolt of fabric with your design is produced.

Can you supply me with just 1 woven tie?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:08:00 +0100

The problem is that with the technology of weaving and the speed of the new looms, the minimum amount of fabric which can be woven and 'finished' - the final heat process which presses and sets the fabric - makes up into 30 ties.

The process of production means that it can take longer to produce the set up than to weave the fabric on short lengths, hence we have to have a minimum order of 30 woven ties.

Why can it take up to 4 weeks to produce ties?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:09:15 +0100

So you have an idea for a tie - a few stripes and a motif - and decide on the woven type. We produce some sketches and you pick the one you prefer - so we are ready to go.

>Some customers think we just add the motif to the stripes - but there are no vast depots with the stripes of every colour and width ready and waiting! We start with yarn and finish with fabric in your design.

n between this is a very technical process in which the design is transferred to a computer Jacquard which instructs the looms on the colours and designs required. Remember that not every colour is available in yarn, although the range is huge.

So the Jacquard is tested by weaving up a sample of your design and if this is OK the fabric is then completed and the ties made.

This process used to take 12 weeks and it is due to technological advances that it has been reduced - but we still have enquiries on a Monday for ties needed for a Saturday function!

Why do tie stripes usually go from top right to bottom left?

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:19:46 +0100

The belief in the trade is that this is related to heraldic crests.

On these, a stripe going from top left to bottom right is called bar sinister and this has been traditionally used as an indicator of an illegitimate birth in the family line.

So - would you want to be wearing stripes going in this direction? We have persuaded many sports clubs to change, although it is doubtful that opposing team supporters think about this when shouting from the stands!

The strange thing is that most of the ties for the American market have these stripes...!

Company holiday

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:23:20 +0100

We are on a skeleton staff this week for the company holiday (until Mon 18 July).

We will respond as soon as we return.

Kind regards,

Charnwood Ties Ltd

Website back online

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:30:54 +0100

Our website is all back up and online.

Unfortunately there was a denial of service attack at our hosting providers, but steps have been taken to try to prevent this in the future. Unfortunately there are people out there who do this sort of thing for fun or financial gain.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Kind regards,

Charnwood Ties Ltd

Back from company holiday

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:06:36 +0100

We are back from the company holiday and are responding to any queries made while we were away.

World's biggest tie?

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:10:32 +0100

We like a challenge and have been considering for some time the possibility of going for the Worlds biggest tie. Our application has been lodged with Guinness World Records - however they have just confirmed the current record.

It stands at 808m long, having taken 5 days to complete. A photo of this record breaking tie, conveniently tied around several buildings - is here - http://www.tashogi.com/tie.htm

Gosh.

Charnwood Ties on holiday until Monday 2 August

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:30:57 +0100

We are now on company annual holiday until Monday 2 August.

We will respond to any enquiries as soon as we are back.

Kind regards,

Charnwood Ties Ltd