Tai One On

Bringing hip to the neckwear industry since summer 2008, Tais Ties is a collection of novelty ties created by the Japanese-Dutch design duo of Tai and Sanne Manders. "We want to make ties for people who don't like wearing ties," says Manders of the five styles that feature black, red and white color blocking and tribal tattoo prints. "They have to catch attention to make our customer stand out of the crowd. In practice, that means that our ties are worn at opportunities where you can catch attention, in nightlife, in advertising professions but also at weddings."

All ties are made from fine Italian silk and hand-stitched in New York. Extra effort is also put into the reverse side of the tie, which features another color or a contrast color lining and loops as well as a bold brand logo. Tais Ties retail for $150-175 and come packaged in wood boxes with a heat-burnt "tai" character—which uncannily enough resembles a man in a tie. With Pinky (an off-white, red-tipped tie worn shorter on the front) and Dirty Business (a black version with a jolt of red) already proving to be bestsellers, the focus is now on expanding the range of styles. The label will also launch cufflinks and pocket squares for the modern gentleman. "Overall, we are positioned as a niche brand and want to keep it that way," Manders insists.

For more information, see www.tais-ties.com.

—Tim Yap