The Twelve Fold Ties of Napoli

There are at least two great necktie providers in Naples. One of them of course is Marinella, the tiny store with the mythic reputation. The other, less well known but perhaps better value, is E & G Cappelli of Via Cavallerizza a Chiaia.

More than one friend with whom I've discussed the ASW web store (yes, the same one that never seems to open even as the goods pile up in the stockroom) has suggested that a selection of Sr. Cappelli's printed silk, cashmere and wool neckties might be a worth while complement to Michael Drake's three folds and the lined six fold woven silks that continue to arrive from another UK tiemaker. And so began the dance, which has progressed to swatches and samples.

Cappelli is a smaller operation than the other two makers, but no slouch when it comes to quality. The ties he dispatched are beautifully made, and they drape perfectly. Thanks presumeably to my inadequate command of the Italian language, instead of the requested six folds the samples appear to have twelve (six on each side and most of them are visible in the photo), which means each tie contains an enormous amount of silk.

It would be nice if the extra folds were some form of blessed event, but they do increase the price of a tie considerably. My closet now contains two twelve fold neckties, and they are likely to remain the only examples of that construction.