Firstly, there is the patience and time that goes into one bolt of say 10 metres that will make up one kimono. It is a process that has artisans using a rice resist in pen like forms and using stencils to create the basic artwork. Then comes the dyeing which is done in house from scratch with sponges and brushes. Once this has been done, the silk has to be steamed three times then washed in fresh water (often from natural springs that run underneath the factory). Then and only then when the dye is set and the resist washed away, does the artisan apply genuine gold leaf and silver.
It is almost sacrilegious to cut these silks up into bow ties if they didn't come out so beautifully. And I am very proud of them, they merge a number of skill sets, dyed silk and silk painting, the art of a jacquard loom and silk weaving and finally the skills of my seamstress and to a small extent my cutting, selection and design skills. But enough about me - all I did was connect the dots.
Anyone can make a bow tie - and I mean that - it wouldn't take more than a day or two to work out how to make one - you can go to a number of haberdashery stores in Sydney and get a private lesson for the morning and you will be mostly on your way. But these bow ties are something special, they are a search for something unique and different and the refinement of one product over nearly ten years now.
I hope you like them as much as I do.
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