Neckwear: Calabrese

There’s no shortage of neck ties or their makers, but it’s debatable that there is a shortage of good neck ties.  Chances are if you’ve purchased a tie that was Made in Italy from any credible American retailer, then you’re probably wearing a product of Calabrese.  Sitting in the center of Naples is the Calabrese workshop, where I paid a visit to see where they’ve been making their ties for the last four generations. And although there were some hints of who their American clientele includes (see. Ralph, Brooks, JP, and others), true to Napoli character, omerta reigned true.  But even without hints, rolls of identifiable fabrics line the floors and shelves as well as a few unmistakable finished product.

Walking through the facility, everything is staged out and arranged in practical assembly line format, beginning with your fabrics and cuts.  Orders for either domestic or international clients lay in bundles, with a few custom orders sprinkled into the mix.  After touring the floor, I quickly  realized how much more went into the tie making process than I originally thought.  From lined, to unlined, to folded, coupled with any number of different fabric combinations it’s easy to see how complexities can add up.  And even with all this, Calabrese still manages to churn out an impressive volume of product with a relatively low head count.  As every tie passes through no less than four to five sets of human hands, no detail is ignored, yet steady volume continues.   This attention to detail and personal touch is exactly why you’re likely wearing one of their ties and why they’ll likely be making them for another four generations.