A Sam (and David) Hober Tie Appreciation Thread

[bullswin]

^^ and I think there's a note on the site mentioning that David's traveling this week, so emailing with him now might not be as speedy as usual.

If this is your first order, I definitely recommend having some communication with David before placing it. There are likely to be minor details you'll think about or questions you'll have at the last second.

 

[bullswin]



Step right up, gentlemen! I still have a Hober linen swatch set available for free to he who asks first.

You people are crazy for not snapping up this swatch set. To tempt you, here's a pic of three Hober ties. From L to R: dark navy fina grenadine, striped grossa grenadine, and midnight blue linen.

 

[Pluripotent]

New squares arrived recently from Sam Hober. From top to bottom:

Thai Blue 2 Mudmee Silk Pocket Square #7

Thai Black 3 Mudmee Silk Pocket Square #17

Carlo Riva - Blue & White Twill Cotton Pocket Square #2

White Super Oxford Cotton Pocket Square #32



Now to put them to good use...

 

[applky]



Am I the only one who thinks they are so perfect as to be unattractive, especially in pocketsquare?

^ Yes.

By which I meant, yes you are the only one.

 

[applky]



You people are crazy for not snapping up this swatch set.
To tempt you, here's a pic of three Hober ties. From L to R: dark navy fina grenadine, striped grossa grenadine, and midnight blue linen.

Fantastic!

Details on construction? Hand-rolled edges?

 

[Cantabrigian]



Received a nice box of goodies from David.

Didn't realize David could do a contrasting edge.

 

[mkarim]



I have the middle one. Very understated and looks much better IRL.

 

[bullswin]



Fantastic!
Details on construction? Hand-rolled edges?

Thanks.

Yeah, just hand rolled edges; no other special requests or construction options went into these (i.e., just standard 3 or 4 fold construction).

 

[applky]

I have the middle one. Very understated and looks much better IRL.

I have been waiting for a restock on that particular striped grenadine for quite a while! Looking forward to ordering and receiving one of my own.

Thanks.
Yeah, just hand rolled edges; no other special requests or construction options went into these (i.e., just standard 3 or 4 fold construction).

Thank you for the details. I default to lightly-lined or unlined six-fold construction with hand rolled edges. I have a feeling that these would look great unlined, if casual.

 

[alexSF]



AlexSF,
Your thoughts on pocket square edges are very interesting and I understand and respect them - sort of like the casual look that some Italians like?
Although, I don't share your viewpoint as perfection is a never ending goal for us in everything we do and i love the look and feel of perfect rolled edges.
The rustic look of pocket squares is very easy to do which is why almost all makers use it. They typically outsource production in the West and use poorly skilled factory workers in the East. Literally they can make pocket squares in 5 to 15 minutes with a large profit margin.
The pocket squares that we make take around 2 hours by a highly trained expert. Also we balance our squares as we make them constantly checking the construction and tearing the pocket square apart if not perfect.

Thanks for your response.
I know your attention to details and really appreciate your work, and I dislike how much you the edges poor stitched (sometimes machine-made that imitate handwork) but I did not speak of that case.
Yes, probably my point of view depends as I am an Italian, I simply prefer the romantic look of different but equally well made edge, with various twists and irregularities (that for me not mean imperfections)
The target to have such a regular and circular edge is clearly visible for me, but for me it makes them so static and inanimate.
I think that both kind of edges are and well made and well stitched, simply in a different way.

 

[alexSF]



AlexSf,
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as it should be, but I can assure you that rustic style pocket squares are not perfectly made - although they may be perfectly beautiful to you and others.
Think of the beauty of a perfectly tuned Ferrari sports car - i don't think you want it to stop and start - you want smooth perfection...

Also perfection is in the eye of the beholder...why you call them rustic?

My grandmother is an hand embroiderer so I am familiar with this kind of work.

 

[alexSF]



AlexSF,
However, you simply can't say that fast sewing that is irregular is perfect in a technical sense and I am coming from a very serious point of view of a craft person.
This is real beauty and perfection to the enthusiast.
I use the word rustic in the sense that in the countryside you might find a more relaxed view of craft.
I hope that one day I can meet you in Italy and sit in a cafe with you for hours to discuss what is perfection and beauty

The point is that I did not talk of fast sewing.
As I have added above my grandmother is an hand emboiderer and I really enjoy her patient and amazing work.
I really understand how attention needs to maintain that regularity in a circular edge like yours, but this is perfection in a point of view, not necessarily for everyone.
I do not talk in technical terms, but in aesthetic terms.

The edges that you call rustic could be perfect as yours in a technical term, with the same slow and carefull stitching but simply with a different aesthetic objective, with the thread pulled in a way to create an effect of movement and not of regularity.

I understand that you want to distinguish from the rest of the production, especially from that of poor quality, which is really rustic...
Your regular edge reach this goal and are perfectly distinguishable like a incredibly well made finishing.
To understand instead if an "ordinary" edge is well done a trained eye it is needed, because the aestetic could be similar but the technical realization not.

Beauty and perfection are both too subjective to force them into rules.
I hope too to meet a great artisan like you, that really love his work.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

David, how old do you think Benjamin will have to get before he starts feeling left out of the family business? That darn Samantha is getting all of the credit!

 

[Newcomer]



David, how old do you think Benjamin will have to get before he starts feeling left out of the family business? That darn Samantha is getting all of the credit!

If I am not mistaken, I think the silk-making part of the business is represented by Ben--from what I remember, both Sam and Ben have been thoroughly taken care of

 

[Threadbearer]



Step right up, gentlemen! I still have a Hober linen swatch set available for free to he who asks first.

Of fer cryin' out loud men! Will somebody PLEASE take this swatch set before I throw it in the back of a drawer and forget that I have it? What a shame it would be if it were to go out of circulation.

Okay, somebody just grabbed it. Other interested parties should watch this space. That swatch set will be available again in one or two weeks.