As other Sam Hober necktie customers know, David and Noina Hober announced that they were going on vacation for a few weeks this past August and that vacation somehow turned into a four month hiatus during which they relocated their tie-making from Denver to rural Thailand.
Now, I am all in favor of the Hobers being able to work whereever they wish, particularly since David has promised that the move means the six week wait for a bespoke Hober necktie will be reduced to three because they'll be able to hire accomplished seamstresses in Thailand. But I'm accustomed to regular necktie fixes and I had placed my order for an Atkinson's striped Irish poplin #46 in July. And then the wait began.
When there was no sign of the Hobers in September I bought a couple of bow ties to help tide me over. In October I bought a wool four in hand so my hands would stop shaking. By November I'd begun hyperventilating whenever I thought about neckties and I thought seriously about taking my business back to Charvet. I was only put off by the logistics - I hadn't looked at silks when I was there this year and Charvet has no web site so I'd be reduced to looking at a few swatches every two weeks. Fortunately, by then there were signs of life on the Hober web site.
Well, it took most of six months but I finally got my fix. A couple days ago a tie-sized box with a collectible Thai postage stamp arrived in the mail and my tie was inside. Perfection as usual, at least since we got the direction of the stripes straightened out. I promptly placed another order, for an orange oxford weave, and hopefully things are returning to normal. After all, I need a regular necktie fix.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Finally Got My Fix
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
11 comments:
Fantastic look. I like the combination with the shirt. Did you notice any change in quality with the tie since their move overseas? Also, where did you get the shirt?
I am pleased to see you have fully recovered, Will. We were worried. I will consider buying a Sam Hober necktie. You certainly seem happy with them. I see they have Downside School ties...!
That's funny - moving the "tie" business to "Thai" land. Haha.
I know what you mean about a regular tie fix. I stop in the Ralph Lauren Mansion every week to buy one tie. I buy it whether I need it or not. Somehow, with the exception of a couple of favorites, I do not like wearing ties more than a couple of times.
I like the particular one in the picture and the shirt it is paired with.
It is good to be back in NYC. I was in Chicago for three days on business but still managed to log into your blog on my Blackberry. It was a bit cumbersome to try to leave comments so I waited until my return. I shopped along Michigan Avenue including Paul Stuart and the RL Store. The RL Store is modeled after the Mansion in NYC but the Chicago store has a great restaurant attached where I ate lunch - an RL burger and soft creamy NY cheesecake. The restaurant was filled with beautiful people.
Will...I am shocked to see that you have your shirts machine pressed...Am I correct in that assumption? How do u justify that....Shocker!
MFJ
My cleaning service uses a machine for the shirt body and hand irons the collar and cuffs. That works for me, particularly since it's been well established that our housekeeper can't iron. :-)
Turling, it's still Noina Hober sewing the neckties and they haven't changed a bit.
Can you comment on the construction (number of folds) and measurements you specified (i.e., width, length, etc.). I would also like to order a tie, but am unsure about certain aspects, particularly the number of folds.
A fine combination.
Will, who does your shirts? It's murder trying to get someone to monogram inside the collar band here in Richmond. But maybe that's because everyone farms out at least part of the process? Very elegant solution to monogramming discreetly.
Half my shirts are T&A and half are Hemrajani copies of T&A.
IJ, IMO the most overlooked thing about a bespoke necktie is the length. Your necktie's widest point should cross the top of your trousers.
I specify a lined and self-tipped sixfold with a self-keeper, 3 1/2" wide and 55" long, cut to tie a moderate four-in-hand that fits into the tie space on a tab collar dress shirt. You should consult with David Hober before making your own choices.
Will, Hemrajani is www.mytailor.com, correct?
I only ask, because I'm quite excited to have a recommended tailor so close to home!!
Joe started with one of my bespoke shirts and has made fine copies of its construction. I cannot speak to his ability to get a good fit on his own.
That's as a shirtmaker, not as a tailor. The tailoring I've seen is less impressive.
Post a Comment