AN ARTISAN APPROACH TO TIES
A highly respected tie maker in Milan, Stefano Bigi should be upset about the decline in neckwear sales over the past decade (or two…) Fortunately, he’s not! “We prefer to serve men who wear neckties, not because they have to but because they want to. Men who are truly discerning and passionate about neckwear. Although you don’t need a necktie these days to look elegant, those who wear them stand out from the crowd, reflecting both confidence and respect. It’s a final touch, a way to present oneself. And it’s empowering.”
Stefano is president, co-owner (with his sister Paola), and third generation of Bigi Cravatte, an esteemed family business now in its fourth generation with the entry of Stefano’s nephew Edourdo. Their mandate has remained constant through the decades: high-quality ties produced with passion.
“Ours is a family story of style and quality started by my grandfather in 1938,” explains Stefano. “Despite the small size of our company, our products are distributed to some of the best shops around the world. Our top three markets are Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In the USA, we work with Boyds, Mitchells, Taylor Richards, Bauman’s, Mario’s, and others. We did successful trunk shows with Barneys for many years.”
According to Stefano, crafting neckwear has increasingly become a job for professionals. “And we are tie professionals. Our ties are produced entirely by hand, crafted the same way my grandfather made them. Much research goes into the design, fabrication, printing, and production, all of which make our ties truly unique.”
Unique indeed. In addition to classic silks, Bigi sources the finest linen, cotton, cashmere, and wool, even lining ties with a special gauze-like fabric, woven on only four existing looms in the entire world. Recent best sellers include classic looks at 7-8 centimeters; suggested retails average $160-$180. Ties can also be customized with hand-embroidered names or logos on request.
Proud of being “very green,” Stefano describes his business as the opposite of fast fashion. “It’s the power of small (24 employees) vs. big corporations where ties are a negligible part of their focus. For us, they’re our entire focus, and menswear retailers are newly appreciating our artisan way of working.”
For retailers to truly understand the craftsmanship that goes into each Bigi necktie, Stefano invites you to visit his production/showroom facility in Milan. If not, he’ll be in NYC in January. For more information, contact stefano.bigi@bgcravatte.it or Evan D’Addario at ODVision Showroom, the company’s U.S. sales agent, at evan@o-dvision.com.
