Ancient Madder Silk Bow Tie in Buff and Red Micropattern - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere proudly offers a wide range of bow ties for day and formal evening wear. Our formal bow ties, perfect for Black or White ties, are individually sized and will be the perfect addition to any tuxedo ensemble. Our day bow ties prove that this versatile accessory is not just for eccentric dandies, but will appear elegant and dapper on any gentleman with our colorful selection of silk and wool challis options.

MADDER SILK

One of the most celebrated fabrics in menswear, genuine ancient madder silk has been distinguishing true connoisseurs for generations. Its delicately soft hand and subtly rich colors are a feast for the eyes, but for the highest quality, you must ensure that you are purchasing real ancient madder silk by understanding exactly what it is.

Ancient Madder dye is derived from alizarine, a compound that can be extracted from the roots of the Rubua Rubiaceae, or red madder, plant. During the 1860s, scientific innovations made it possible to produce this same dye in laboratory conditions, and today, all madder colors must be produced chemically.

What makes this bow tie special?

Genuine Ancient Madder. Today, only a handful of silk printers are willing to invest the time and effort required to produce genuine ancient madder fabrics. Fort Belvedere located one such maker in England, the birthplace of the ancient madder technique. At this mill, each piece of fabric is hand screen printed multiple times, based on the number of colors employed: fabric with four colors, for instance, must be printed four times. As a result, this production method is extremely cost-intensive and requires the skill of gifted artisans, but the results, and the rare beauty of
the fabrics they produce, speak for themselves.

Chalky Feel. A hallmark of an ancient madder tie is its crisp, chalky feel. This unique texture can only be achieved by reapplying the natural gum that coated the silk before it was stripped away in the production process. Doing so gives the fabric its singular, gorgeous color that makes it such a dashing and debonair choice in menswear. 

Hand-Printed Pattern. Printed on an artisanal screen in a process typical of Old World production, the colors of this pattern shine with an unusual brilliance that cannot be replicated by any other method.

Classic Pointed Ends. One of the most classic shapes, this bow tie features the pointed ends that were typical for both social and business occasions during the Golden Age of Menswear.
Easily Adjustable. Our sliding neck-size adjuster was designed to be simple and easy to use, so you can achieve a custom fit to your exact size with ease. When you are in a rush, you can even unhook the adjuster clasp and leave the knot tied for convenience, although, for regular wear, we do recommend untying the knot to avoid wrinkles and premature wear, and aging.

Perfectly Proportioned. When tied, this bow tie has classically proportioned dimensions of approx. 4" by 2" or 10 cm by 5 cm.

Bow tie style tips

A perfectly symmetrical self-tied bow tie is almost impossible to achieve, and it too closely resembles the artificial appearance of a cheap-looking pre-tied bow tie. Therefore, take advantage of the spontaneity and unique look of a self-tied bow tie by embracing a nonchalant approach.

How so? Intentionally leave one end of the bow tie a little longer than the other, or one side higher than the other, for an organic, sprezzatura-inspired appearance. You can also vary the tightness or looseness of the knot for more formal or casual looks. The result is a bow tie that is definitively styled your way and that will fit your personality.

The majority of modern bow ties come in only one or two boring styles with flimsy interlining and oversized, obtrusive proportions that were especially popular in the 1970s and 1990s.

Fort Belvedere, however, has revived the classic bow tie varieties that made the glorious 1930s a part of the Golden Age of Menswear, with smaller, neater bow ties that are subtle and sophisticated. Fort Belvedere offers a bountiful collection of day bow ties in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes that will allow you to find the perfect bow tie to suit your face and your individual style.