[Matt S]

Have you wondered what the weave of a grenadine tie looks like up close? I thought it would be cool to examine different weaves through a microscope to see my favourite cloths up close. Grenadine weaves are for more complex than anything else we might wear. As many of you know there are two types of grenadine ties, the garza grossa and garza fine as I learned from David Hober. Hober uses the garza grossa for his grenadine ties. I couldn't take pictures of the weaves but I've translated them into two illustrations. The complexity of the weave may explain why grenadine ties are so expensive.

Garza Grossa

The example above is from Sam Hober. The weave is illustrated below:

Other brands that sell this tie include, but are not limited to, Brioni, Charles Tyrwhitt, Domenico Spano, Drakes, Harvie & Hudson, Jay Kos, Kent Wang, Lawrence of Warwick, Marinella, Mountain & Sackett, New & Lingwood, and Turnbull & Asser. Brooks Brothers, T. M. Lewin, Sulka, Ben Silver, Paul Stuart, and Robert Talbott all used to sell garza grossa grenadine ties, and the last three currently sell a type of mock grenadine instead.

Garza Fine

The example above is from Paul Stuart (no longer offered). The weave is illustrated below:

Brands that sell this tie include Brioni, J. Press, Maus & Hoffman, Oxxford, Udeshi, Valentino, and Winston Tailors. Charles Tyrwhitt, Drakes, Polo Ralph Lauren and Ralph Lauren Black Label used to but no longer offer this type of grenadine.

After seeing these complex weaves up close there should be no mistaking them for knit ties.

 

[BespokeMex]

Cool looking tie.

 

[The Rambler]

Very cool. Thanks for posting, Matt. My father, in a long career in public sevice in DC, wore a suit every day and always wore a grenadine tie, of the latter type. He had one in navy, one in a dark burgundy, and one in a sort of dark gold color, and may have replaced them from time to time, but not so you'd notice. In a fit of nostalgia a few weeks ago, I ordered one in dark blue, and another in dark red, from Sam Hober. Can hardly wait til they arrive!

 

[PJC in NoVa]

CT is offering a couple of grenadine (or "mock" grenadine?) ties as well:

https://www.ctshirts.com/Royal-grenadine-silk-tie-?q=share|grenadine|TH476RYL|||||||||||||

https://www.ctshirts.com/Silver-grenadine-silk-tie?q=share|grenadine|TH477SLV|||||||||||||

 

[Wisco]

In my opinion, Grenadine ties are perhaps the perfect tie. Conservative, rich looking and yet unobtrusive. They use texture instead of pattern and are perfect with worsted wool or flannel suits. I am big fan of Hober's Grenadines as they "hang well" with a robust yet soft lining.

I could be like Rambler's father and wear nothing but with confidence and style.... all the time imagining I look as good as this guy:

 

[DrMac]

Thanks for posting, very informative!

 

[Matt S]

CT is offering a couple of grenadine (or "mock" grenadine?) ties as well:

https://www.ctshirts.com/Royal-grenadine-silk-tie-?q=share|grenadine|TH476RYL|||||||||||||

https://www.ctshirts.com/Silver-grenadine-silk-tie?q=share|grenadine|TH477SLV|||||||||||||

They appear to be authentic garza grossa.

 

[PJC in NoVa]

I tend to prefer the smaller-gauged garza fina grenadines b/c the garza grossa ones look to me like they might be more pick-prone--or is that a mistaken impression on my part?

 

[Sam Hober]

We could have used Matt earlier today when we were making diagrams of our new silver cuff links.

But he would probably more enjoy working for a large design department like Ralph Lauren's.

Matt have you sent Ralph your portfolio yet?

Back to grenadines - we love working with grenadine silk and the grenadine garza grossa has been our favorite version and possibly will continue to be.

With that said the New Year is around the corner and perhaps it is time to expand our grenadine horizons with a couple of dozen new ones? Actually, we already have a couple of dozen new pin dot and stripe designs in the works, so if we added the grenadine Garza Finas that I am thinking of it will closer to 4 dozen new grenadines.


You can see a closeup of a Grenadine Garza Grossa and a Grenadine Garza Fina here:

 

[The Rambler]

David: I think a few fina offerings would be a significant addition to what, as far as I can see, is the worlds best selection of grenadines. I would buy a couple, for sure.

 

[Matt S]

I tend to prefer the smaller-gauged garza fina grenadines b/c the garza grossa ones look to me like they might be more pick-prone--or is that a mistaken impression on my part?

I find that garza grossa is indeed more pick-prone, but I prefer the look so that's what most of mine are.

 

[Matt S]

David Hober saw some inconsistencies with my garza fina weave. Those inconsistencies were due to the fact that I used to wrong side of the fabric. For the record, here is the right side of the garza fina: