Fabric Care
A good tie will outlast the suit it was bought for, if you treat it like cloth rather than a strap.
Untie it properly
Never pull the narrow end back through the knot. Reverse the steps you tied it with. Yanking a knot loose stretches the bias and puts a permanent twist in the blade — it is the single fastest way to ruin a tie.
Let it rest
Hang the tie or roll it loosely after wearing and give it a day off. The interlining needs time to recover its shape. A tie worn two days running keeps the creases of the first day.
Storing
- Roll from the narrow end and store flat in a drawer, or hang from a smooth rail.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight — silk-finish colours fade before the cloth wears out.
- Do not fold along the blade. A fold becomes a crease, and a crease becomes a line.
Creases
Most creases drop out overnight from hanging. For a stubborn one, hang the tie in a steamy bathroom for ten minutes. If you must iron, use the lowest setting, a pressing cloth between the iron and the silk, and never press the edges flat — the rolled edge is what gives a tie its life.
Spills
- Blot immediately with a dry cloth. Never rub, and never use water on silk.
- Do not machine wash or hand wash. Water rings on silk are permanent.
- Take it to a dry cleaner and tell them what the stain is.
The short version
Dry clean only. Untie it the way you tied it, rest it a day, roll it in a drawer, and it will still look right in five years.
