Kent Wang Two-Tone Knit Ties

Obsession is a strong word, but probably the only appropriate one when I’m talking about knit ties.   Kent Wang, of polo shirt fame, was kind enough to send me one of his two-tone knits a few weeks ago, and sure, I’ll say it – I’m obsessed. 

I wrote a week ago at the Gentleman’s Gazette about a variety of Kent Wang’s accessories.  But, along with those items, Kent also sent me one of his iridescent, two-tone knit ties in the blue/brown color combination.  When he and I spoke, Kent got really excited when he started talking about the ties, and I knew I had to take one for a spin.

Just like Kent said, the knit is really “crunchy.”  Some knits are smooth, tightly knit, and minimized their three-dimensional texture.  Then there are knits like this.  The texture is really prominent, even when looking at the tie on someone else.  Obviously the two-tone color combo makes this even more in your face.  As you move around the tie it changes from looking almost pure blue to pure brown, and every mix in between.  If you’re sporting one and rock back and forth you might start making onlookers dizzy.

There is a slightly thicker-than-average seam running down the back of the tie, which Kent attributes to the vintage Italian looms on which they’re made.  “I picked the factory specifically for this,” he told me, “They just tie a better knot in my opinion.”  On some ties a seam like this can cause the knot to be too thick or to not lay flat, but I haven’t had either of those problems.

The “neck” is ribbon-lined, and the ends fairly neat and tidily finished.  They don’t have that sewn-shut-sock feel that cheap knits suffer from.  You’ll also notice that Kent’s knits come with a pointed tip, although for nay-sayers he does make them in a square-tip as well.  It’s just another touch to make them that little bit out of the ordinary.  “I want things to be traditional, but I like playing with things like color and texture to add subtle interest.”

You can pick one up here at Kent Wang’s Online Shop.