What do you imagine when you see this colorful tie? Can you see yourself striding the streets of old Europe?
This sophisticated tie has a long history while also using cutting-edge technology.
At first, you’ll notice the casual and playful features, but the more you look, the more you realize it's all very intentional and precise.
But don’t let that deter you, feel free to pick it up and lightly wrap it around you like you would a scarf.
A fashionable necktie like this has the perfect amount of classic feel, but with a modern twist.
Most ties are smooth and glossy, made to match with a crisp suit for formal occasions. This was the same situation for Hadachu Orimono when they were making standard tie fabrics from 1935 to 1990. When orders for OEM tie fabrics began to slow down, Shoji Hada took over the family business. He was 23 years old, and despite being hired as an engineer, Shoji decided to give the business a try when his father became unable to continue working.
Shoji was the kind of man who never wore a suit, and definitely didn't wear ties, either. Even after starting to work at the family business, he never saw a tie that he wanted to wear. To him, ties were made for fancy suits and felt pretentious; they were certainly not something a young adult could ever wear on a date. In 2008 when OEM orders began to decline, Shoji had an opportunity to release his creativity. For five years, he tried making things like hats and scarves, but these failed to draw in customers, and sales remained stagnant. Then he realized that he was trying to sell things he wouldn't even buy! With a new mindset of creating something for himself, Shoji created a colorful and classic tie packed with all his favorite things.
Shoji’s tie was so unprecedented that the wholesaler felt uneasy, and doubted that it could sell. A novel feature of these ties was the cozy matte texture instead of the usual cold gloss. The effect was achieved by re-spinning long silk thread like one would cotton or linen. And while he aimed for casual rather than fancy, they were very particular about using only the finest natural materials. Along with a vintage off-white coloring, these ties were filled with Mr. Hada’s favorite things.
Hadachu Orimono ties are all designed by Shoji himself. He also handpicked the store design as well, gathering inspiration from his favorite classic cars and bikes. His father introduced him to the appeal of cars, and while his father was always drawn to the newest models, Shoji always admired the charm of the classics, saying that “classic with a twist” is the best.
A tie that gives a classic feel while being more matte than glossy is produced on a "deliberately slow" loom.
Hadachu Orimono purposefully uses an older loom so the fabric is woven slower, one thump at a time because it changes the texture completely. While newer looms are faster, Mr. Hada says the result of such speedy technology is “fabric with a papery texture.” It’s important to him that the fabric feels soft and airy, so an old, slow loom fits his needs perfectly. Hadachu Orimono also put a new spin on the transparent “Shaori” fabric that's often used for summer kimonos, by repurposing the technique with wool material for winter. This is how novelty and ingenuity spark: by learning one thing and adding on to it with a new twist.
Mr. Hada’s goal is to appeal to the younger generation who still feel that ties don’t match their lifestyle. He wants the customer to experience natural materials and feel the seasons incorporated within. That’s why he wants to make fashionable ties that can be worn anywhere by anyone; ties that aren't too pretentious but still add something special to an ordinary day. Something a little old-fashioned, but with a modern-day twist that’s never been seen before.
