About Jerry Garcia ties

 

A Jerry Garcia Christmas tie

Jerry Garcia was a talented musician. He made his mark in the world as the lead guitarist and a vocalist for the rock group The Grateful Dead, until he died of a heart attack in 1995.

Everyone knows about his musical career, but few people know about his graphic arts career.

And many people who wear J. Garcia neckties don't realize that it's that "J. Garcia". 

Jerry Garcia was an artist?!

My abridged version of the story is this.

Garcia was both a talented musician and a talented artist. His plan, a laid-back and casual plan, was to make a living with his art, and to sing, write music, and play guitar on the side. In 1961, he survived a horrific car accident that killed one person and seriously injured Garcia and two friends. The accident was a turning point in his life, and he decided he needed to take something seriously. So he set his drawing and painting aside and devoted himself  to the guitar. After four years of playing with various groups, he and some friends formed the band that became The Grateful Dead.

In 1980, after the band became successful, Garcia returned to the graphic arts. He exhibited his work at the Weir Gallery in Berkeley, California. He monetized his craft by creating beautiful silk scarves and neckties and selling them under the "J. Garcia" brand.  Garcia's silk-screened tie designs were unlike the traditional geometric designs. They were attractive and eye-catching, without being crazy or obnoxious. While I wouldn't say they took the world by storm, they definitely attracted a following. They were sold worldwide in department stores, men's apparel stores, and online.

It's ironic that his two worlds didn't overlap very much. Many of his necktie fans don't know that he was a rock'n'roll superstar; likewise, many of his music fans don't know that he made neckties. 

And many people who bought his ties didn't realize that the "J. Garcia" on the necktie label was the same J. Garcia that played for the Dead.

Beautiful designs, lousy workmanship

Garcia's tie designs are beautiful and eye-catching. The designs are organized into themes. In addition to everyday business designs, he has special themes for occasions like weddings, and for holidays like Independence Day, Halloween, and Christmas. Although most of his ties are pure silk, he also has some designs in cotton. I don't know whether he ever worked in wool.

There's only one problem with J. Garcia ties: The workmanship is really bad. No, the workmanship is crap. The ties wear out too quickly. 

For the first few wearings, they're okay. But then the thread on the main seam starts coming out. Or else, because the fabric is cut too close to the seam, the fabric starts raveling even if the seam remains intact. Both of these defects can be corrected with fray-check or super glue, if you catch them quickly enough. But then the interfacing starts getting twisted and bunched up inside the tie, so your knot looks ugly, and there's no way to fix that. And eventually, the fabric where the tie is knotted simply falls apart, and that can't be fixed either.

So, what to do? Your choice. 

Some of you may say that that's normal, that all ties wear out, especially silk ties. Not so.

I have some Italian ties ranging in age from 3 to 40 years, and they are still in excellent shape after hundreds of wearings. The workmanship on these Italian ties is exquisite. J. Garcia ties are all made in China, not Italy. J. Garcia ties reinforce everything I've ever said on the subject of Chinese workmanship.

So, don't buy them, because they're crappily built, and because they're made in China?

No. I say, buy them anyway. Plan on them wearing out every couple of years, and on buying replacements for the ones that wear out. Or buy several of them, and cycle through them so that they last longer. They're worth it.