Pics from Shengzhou: World’s Tie Capital, particularly Babei, world's top producer

[babygreenspots]

Of course there are few ties that styleforum would buy made there, but it does produce up to 90% of annual global output, by volume. Check my site for some reflections and pics. I mean "capital" and "top" in terms of number produced. A good number of the better ties I saw coming off the assembly lines said "made in Italy". More oddly, some also said "made in Bangladesh" and "made in Indonesia" etc.

The only "higher end" brands I saw were Ted Baker, Sean John, and some Tommy Hilfiger. Of course, the better brands are probably produced in smaller numbers, so I wouldn't necessarily encounter them in the space of a day long visit. Has anyone else been to Shengzhou?

 

[vitaminc]

wow...

 

[Xiaogou]

I pray that Charvet never does this...

 

[lee_44106]

Originally Posted by Xiaogou

I pray that Charvet never does this...

How hard is it to make a friggin tie? From a pure technical standpoint?

Would you still be this dismayed is the exact same silk, same thread, same lining were used on a tie but sewn together by a pair of Chinese hands?

Look at the Sam Hober ties. They are also handmade by Asian hands but I hear the quality is near the top.

 

[Xiaogou]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

How hard is it to make a friggin tie? From a pure technical standpoint?

Would you still be this dismayed is the exact same silk, same thread, same lining were used on a tie but sewn together by a pair of Chinese hands?

Look at the Sam Hober ties. They are also handmade by Asian hands but I hear the quality is near the top.


I agree with what you write. It is just that if I buy a tie from a French or Italian company, I expect it to be made in that country--esecially when the House is a famous maker. Further, Charvet has a proud history and they charge top dollar. I pay that top dollar for their products made in their country--not outsourced!

 

[babygreenspots]

Originally Posted by Xiaogou

I agree with what you write. It is just that if I buy a tie from a French or Italian company, I expect it to be made in that country--esecially when the House is a famous maker. Further, Charvet has a proud history and they charge top dollar. I pay that top dollar for their products made in their country--not outsourced!

Absolutely. Actually, I think that Shengzhou will soon be able to make ties on the same level.

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by babygreenspots

A good number of the better ties I saw coming off the assembly lines said "made in Italy". More oddly, some also said "made in Bangladesh" and "made in Indonesia" etc.
Da da daa duuuummmm...

 

[babygreenspots]

I would also really suggest reading chapter 4 of James Kynge's "China Shakes the World". It explains how China is taking over the Italian textile and apparel industries, focusing on the effects in Prato and Como. The chapter, called "the Tie that binds: China goes to Europe," explains how Wenzhouese start by working in Italian factories, then take over the factories, and finally move them back to China. Has anyone experienced this first hand? Any ideas on what the effects are? What is the effect on the high-end products, made in Italy, that people here like? Of course, most of the people I know in Shengzhou claimed that the samples of "better" made in Italy ties that I brought were actually made in Shengzhou. Strangely, most of the managers and owners of the factories confessed to only having worn a tie once or twice in their lives.

 

[tlmusic]

Very interesting information, babygreenspots!

 

[Philip1978]

Interesting, thanks.

 

[Sam Hober]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

How hard is it to make a friggin tie? From a pure technical standpoint? Would you still be this dismayed is the exact same silk, same thread, same lining were used on a tie but sewn together by a pair of Chinese hands? Look at the Sam Hober ties. They are also handmade by Asian hands but I hear the quality is near the top.
Lee, Making a simple mass market tie by machine or hand is not that hard to do. Making a really beautiful well balanced hand made tie is very, very difficult. We have given up finding people that can make ties for us and have gone back to a traditional apprenticeship system so that we can very slowly and careful train our staff. Sam Hober is an American owned and managed company. Tie making is currently done by Americans living in Thailand. My wife and myself. Eventually we will have Thai staff making ties and at that time our ties will still be of the highest bespoke quality. I am not sure who told you that we are (only) near the top but I have never seen a tie as well made as ours anywhere and that includes the few remaining bespoke tie makers of Italy, France and England. We are very proud of what we do and put our heart into every tie. The main reason for this is our attention to detail and we love what we do.

 

[babygreenspots]

Originally Posted by Sam Hober

We are very proud of what we do and put our heart into every tie. The main reason for this is our attention to detail and we love what we do.
It was the absence of any kind of feeling for the product on the part of the factory owners that concerned me most in Shengzhou. It would be one thing if the factories were owned by people who were interested in the product - i.e. the actual brands - but the factories are generally entirely locally owned. The product is even more removed from people who care about it than it was in the past. Most of the people weaving the ties and even owning the factories have barely seen anyone wearing a tie.

 

[Sam Hober]

Originally Posted by babygreenspots

It was the absence of any kind of feeling for the product on the part of the factory owners that concerned me most in Shengzhou. It would be one thing if the factories were owned by people who were interested in the product - i.e. the actual brands - but the factories are generally entirely locally owned. The product is even more removed from people who care about it than it was in the past. Most of the people weaving the ties and even owning the factories have barely seen anyone wearing a tie.
babygreendpots, You are a good observer and I liked the article that you linked to. China is so big that it is only a matter of time until clothing starts being made by those who love what they are doing than we shall see some great results.

 

[romafan]

About 15 years ago my dad came back from a China visit very excited by his 'tie discovery' - they were called (I believe) Rocket and cost $1 each. He had 100 or so, mostly in repp patterns. For the next couple of years all male relatives (sons, nephews, brother, son-law) came to expect a couple of Rockets for Christmas. Initially we'd ooh & ahh as he repeated the story, emphasizing the $1 price tag. After a couple of years of this people would beat him to the punch w/ a "Hey...Rockets! I hope you didn't spend more than a dollar on these"....

 

[Talbina]

Originally Posted by Sam Hober

babygreendpots,

You are a good observer and i liked the article that you linked to.

China is so big that it is only a matter of time until clothing starts being made by those who love what they are doing than we shall some great results.

Sam,


I was wondering if you make non-silk ties.

Thanks