Necktie nirvana

When I retired a few years back, I decided to rid myself of the blue suits, the white cotton shirts and all that goes with a corporate image.

However, I clung to my neckties for some unknown reason. I carefully rolled the neckties as my experience is that a folded necktie is a necktie of no further use.

The final necktie tally was well over 80. Let me tell you, I was not a necktie collector. These final 80 neckties were all purchased within about a five year period and not much longer.

No polyester, snap-on ties for me either. I could tie a perfect knot in my sleep and never have the tail end longer than necessary.

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Front of Marla's necktie skirt made from recycled ties.

[Click on photo to view larger version.]

I stopped to tally the cost of my necktie addiction. At an average price of $50 (and that is truthfully on the low end of the price range), my last hoard was worth an astounding $4,000.

Don’t even ask what I used to pay for my suits and Egyptian cotton white shirts.

The necktie tale doesn’t end here though. A few years ago, my friend Marla was visiting from Quebec and mentioned she and some friends were making necktie skirts and would I consider contributing one to her creation.

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Back view of Marla's necktie skirt creation.

[Click on photo to view larger version.]

I took the entire box of neckties, closed my eyes and shoved them into her hands. Last week, I received pictures of Marla’s marvelous necktie skirt.

While the majority of the ties are mine, she’s also included one of her father’s ties as well as several other male friend’s ties.

It makes me smile to see my neckties of use once again.

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12 Responses to “Necktie nirvana”

  1. Mad Gringo Says:

    Recycled neckties! I love it.

    Necktie wearers of the world, UNTIE !

    I’m sure they look better on the fairer sex as a skirt too.

    Go slow.

  2. Diane Says:

    Ahhhhhhhh! How cool! Silk too I’m sure!

  3. Beyond the Oyster Juice Says:

    It’s beautiful! Not only do we move from ties but it moves toward tropical shirts. Leave it to the Japanese. What to do with those old ties? How about turning them into skirts? Mad Gringo is not wasteful.http://www.larryhnetka.com/wordpress/archives/2007/07/10/necktie-skirt/

  4. stephanie Says:

    please send me a pattern for the skirt asap please my email address is feelnfroggy15@yahoo.com

  5. Megan Jin Says:

    Dear Sir/Madam,

    I have pleasure of contacting you. I am Megan, foreign trade staff of Tianfu Tie&weaving. We are a necktie manufacturer,we have done necktie and relative products,we have much experience about making necktie and relative products.

    Our products ranges from Silk woven necktie, Silk Printed necktie, Polyester Woven Necktie, Polyester Printed Necktie and Relative Accessories (bowtie,cummerbund, Vest,shirts,scarf and cufflink,necktie Pin, and So On).We offer the Fabric too.We can Customize Necktie according your Designs,or please supply your idea to us,then We can send Design for you.There are various Designs in our design Office. We will offer you the best product and the best service,especially the competitive price.

    If you want a best supplier ,please contact me in no Hesitate.

    Looking forward to your early reply!

    Best regards!

    Megan Jin

    Zhejiang Tianfu Tie&Weaving Co.,Ltd
    Tel:86-575-83116897 86-13185583833
    Fax:86-575-83113878
    Addr:225# Shancheng Road ,Shengzhou ,Zhejiang ,China
    Skype:megan519
    MSN:megan-jin@hotmail.com
    http://www.chinatianfu.com

  6. art for housewives Says:

    A leash made from recycled 100% silk neckties. Smooth, soft and oh so smart! RECYCLED NECKTIES: Recycled Necktie Weavings with Marianne Blackmar —–Necktie Pouch —-Last week, I received pictures of Marla’smarvelous necktie skirt. —-Necktie Skirt—coat includes recycled Harris tweed, and silk from a neck tie—-NECKTIE BRACELET—-OLD NECKTIES TO MAKE A PURSE—-handbags constructed from recycled men’s ties.

  7. Ties Says:

    Wow….

    What a great way to reuse your ties…. and yeah… whats with us guys just holding on to our ties forever??!!

  8. robin ruggles Says:

    Hi Larry:

    Greetings from a 2nd generation Saskatchewan exile (we still have property in Estevan).

    How are you doing. What did you do after the Vancouver board of trade?

    After leaving ERIBC, I spent about 5 years in Victoria. Then went to CIDA.
    Then spent 4 years in Colombia. For the last 9 years, I’ve been out of the country—4 years in Tokyo, 4 years in Bangladesh and now 1 year in Nairobi.

    We have two children. Michael is working for a software company in Singapore. Our daughter Jaseleen is doing a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies in New York.

    Belen is fine and still does a lot of painting.

    Send me your email so we can keep in contact.

    Kind regards,

    Robin Ruggles

  9. Linda West Says:

    Beautiful! Please …would you be so kind and generous to email instructions for making to me? Peace. Love, Linda

  10. Linda West Says:

    PS My email address, for instructions for making one of these awesome skirts: Linda.west@yahoo.com (linda dot west …)

  11. Larry E Gundersen Says:

    As a fellow collector, I thought you might be interested in my website at http://www.museumofcorporateneckties.com

  12. buy handbag Says:

    Hey there totally fantastic way of recycling your ties my husband is a tie freak .. so maybe i might have to have ago .. lol

    buy handbags last blog post..Trendy Handbags

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