Every man knows that, when it’s time for a special occasion or an important meeting, wearing a tie is customary.
In modern fashion and attire, the tie is not worn quite as often as it was in the past.
Ties are still part of fashion, but sometimes they can get very expensive.
Contemplating why this small piece of fabric can sometimes cost several hundred dollars has some people baffled.
Why Are Ties So Expensive? (5 Reasons)
1. Fabric
The first reason ties can get a bit pricey is the fabric they are made of.
The nicer ties are usually made of silk, and silk is typically a more expensive fabric.
You could make the argument that ties don’t require much fabric and should, therefore, not be as expensive, but there are other things that go into this.
Sometimes the fabric used may be imported from another country or have a rare or unique pattern.
Generally, men will want a tie that stands out as unique and not show up to work wearing the same one as their friend.
The fabric ties are made of is also generally patterned or striped.
These will need to be sewed perfectly to ensure the tie looks good when it is being worn.
There is quite a bit of design that will have to take place with the fabric as well.
The combination of the type of fabric, the design, and making sure it holds up for many years certainly increases the cost of a tie.
The good news is that you should have this tie as part of your wardrobe for your entire life, just don’t eat anything with ketchup while you are wearing it!
2. Craftsmanship
The very expensive ties are very well crafted.
They will not have any stray fabric or threads, and you will notice that they sometimes are handmade.
The handmade ties tend to be more expertly constructed without any imperfections.
The chances of someone looking at your tie and knowing that it is well made are probably rather slim.
For the most part, if a tie looks good, people will not really care if it cost you $5 or $250.
If you wear ties often, then craftsmanship may become a more important consideration for you.
The last thing you want is to wash your tie once and have it start to fall apart.
Ties are not easy to sew or fix.
Sometimes if you get a hole in a shirt or a pair of pants, you can stitch it and get it back to new.
This is harder to do for a tie and something most people won’t even attempt.
If you are worried about your tie being made with quality, then you should purchase a more high-end tie with superior craftsmanship.
You will certain manufacturers are well known for making very high-quality ties.
Once they get this reputation, the pricing on their ties will likely remain higher than that of other brands.
The tie business is rather competitive.
There are lots of companies who are making ties, but people don’t buy them quite as much as they once did.
This makes craftsmanship even more important for the person who is looking for a unique and quality tie.
3. Brand
Most people have their favorite brands.
Whether it is food, clothing, cars, or sports equipment, people tend to get stuck on brand names.
Sometimes ties are expensive just because they are made by a high-end brand.
The tie may be no better than one that is created by a small shop or a startup brand, but because it has that name, people will pay more.
In addition to the brand, sometimes the logo also increases the price of a tie.
Some ties will just have a pattern or a color that is visible, but others will have a logo as well.
If, for instance, the tie has a Polo or a Tommy Hilfiger logo on the tie, it is going to instantly sell for more.
This is interesting because, for the most part, the quality of that tie may be no different than one that is priced considerably less.
The one thing that can usually be said about brand name ties is they are going to be more fashion forward.
Most high-end big-name brands do lots of research about where styles are trending and how they can stay on top of it.
If you see a brand name coming out with a line of brown and white ties, chances are those are going to be the fashionable colors of the season.
Looking at the lower priced ties which may be knock-offs or not brand names, you may not see this same style or color offerings.
If you can find a brand name tie you really like, it does make some sense to stick with it.
If you are getting the quality you need mixed with the fashion and the design you like, then it makes sense to stay brand loyal.
If, however, you are looking to save money on ties, look for off brand ties or companies that are doing a clearance on their ties from last year.
This is quite common to see, especially at the start of the new year.
You may find ties on a clearance rack or at a discount store.
There is nothing wrong with these ties, but the companies that manufacture them may have just released their new line, and stores need to clear the shelves.
This is a great way to find deals on a tie, regardless of the occasion you are shopping for.
4. Occasion
Let’s get a bit more involved in the occasion because this has a major influence on the price of ties.
Tie and clothing manufacturers recognize the fact that, if you need to wear a tie, chances are there is a special occasion.
Those special occasions usually have something to do with money.
If you are going to a wedding or you have a very important business meeting coming up, chances are you need a tie.
It is then assumed that you have money to attend this event, and therefore, the price of a tie automatically increases.
Ties are considered luxury items because they are definitely more of a want than a need.
People need socks, they need underwear, but you really could do without ties.
Since this is a specialty and unique item, the tie tends to be quite a bit more expensive.
Ties are also sometimes considered to be a symbol of power and success.
If you have to wear a tie to work every day, then you must be somewhat successful, right?
This mentality is not necessarily true, but it has increased the cost of a tie.
When you look at the amount of fabric used, and how often you will end up using the tie, the prices people pay are really quite high.
Products that are sometimes only used occasionally will have higher prices than those that are used daily.
This is partly because they will not wear out quite as fast and typically have a longer lifespan.
Chances are, if you spend $80 on a tie, you will have it for the rest of your life.
For a tie manufacturer, that means they may not make any other sales from you.
5. Gifts
The last reason ties are so expensive is that they are very often given as a gift.
For the person who has everything, the tie can be a perfect gift.
Sometimes when you are trying to find a gift for a successful person who doesn’t really need anything, the tie is a great choice.
Chances are, at some point, they will need the tie for something.
When you purchase the more expensive ties, they usually come in a nice box.
The gift looks really professional, and it will be an impressive thing to give someone.
A tie works as a good gift for both personal and business-related transactions.
If you want to get even more involved with this, you can also purchase a tie clip you can use with your tie.
The tie clip will add a bit more class to the gift, but it will add some more expense as well.
Tie clips can get very expensive because they are often made of high-quality materials or metals.
How Much Should a Tie Cost?
A tie should cost you around $20.
Anything more than this is considered to be a more expensive tie.
Of course, there are manufacturers who will sell ties for hundreds of dollars.
It is up to you how much you want to spend on a tie.
If it is your wedding, you may be more interested in spending a lot of money.
For a tie to wear to a business meeting, the price you are willing to pay could be quite a bit less.
Is a Thicker Tie Better?
Some people assume that a thicker tie is going to be higher quality.
This is not always the case.
This means the inside of the tie or the interlining is thicker.
If the interlining is stuffed with a cheaper material, the tie will be thick but not necessarily high quality.
Another problem with the thicker tie is the ability to get the perfect knot.
When you purchase a tie, you must think about the knot you have to make with the tie, in addition to the way it looks.
If you are not a knot tying expert, then be very careful about the type of fabric you purchase when it comes to your tie.
Next time you see a thinner tie, don’t assume that it is a poor-quality tie.
Are Ties Made by Machine or Hand Made?
The better the tie, the higher the chance that it was hand made.
Handmade ties are going to have different stitching, and you should be able to notice it almost immediately.
The hand sewn ties hold up better over time and have a lower chance of coming apart or ripping when they are used extensively.
Pay attention to the fabric at the tip of the tie as well.
The tip will take some wear and tear when it falls when you sit.
If the tip of the tie starts to come apart, your entire tie will be ruined.
