For George Laybourne, British craftsmanship isn't simply something to print on a label. It is an important part of why the brand exists.
From the beginning, we wanted to create neckwear that reflected the traditions of British menswear: considered, understated and made to be worn for years rather than seasons.
That meant looking closer to home.
A Tradition Worth Preserving
Britain has a remarkable history of textile manufacturing and craftsmanship.
Nowhere is that more evident than in Macclesfield, Cheshire, a town whose relationship with silk stretches back centuries and which became synonymous with British silk printing and production.
It is here that the printed silks used for many George Laybourne designs begin their journey.
Working with specialist British manufacturers allows us to combine modern design with skills and processes developed over generations.
For us, that matters.
Because luxury should be about more than a name. It should be evident in the materials, the construction and the people responsible for making the finished product.
Hand-Finished in England
The final construction of our ties takes place in England.
Each tie is carefully hand-finished in Kent using traditional methods, with close attention paid to proportion, construction and the way the finished tie knots and drapes.
These are details that can easily go unnoticed.
We rather like that.
George Laybourne has never been about clothing that needs to announce itself. Often, the most important details are those appreciated by the person wearing it.
The weight of the silk.
The shape of the knot.
The way the blade falls.
The finishing visible when you turn the tie over.
Small details which, together, create something considerably more special.
British Made. Internationally Sourced.
Being committed to British craftsmanship doesn't mean pretending Britain is the only country capable of producing exceptional textiles.
Quite the opposite.
Where another country possesses a particular expertise, we believe it should be celebrated.
Our grenadine silks, for example, are woven in Northern Italy, where specialist mills possess generations of experience producing this distinctive open silk weave.
The finished ties are then hand-finished in England.
It's a philosophy we intend to maintain as George Laybourne grows:
Find exceptional materials from the places that make them best, while preserving British craftsmanship at the heart of the finished product.
Why Not Manufacture Somewhere Cheaper?
There are undoubtedly less expensive ways to make a tie.
For a young brand, choosing British manufacturing isn't necessarily the easiest route either.
But George Laybourne wasn't created to make the cheapest tie possible.
We want to build a British neckwear house with longevity.
That means developing relationships with skilled manufacturers, supporting specialist crafts and refusing to compromise simply to reduce the cost of production.
It also means producing in considered quantities rather than chasing volume.
Some George Laybourne designs will therefore be produced only in limited numbers. Once certain editions are gone, they may not return.
We believe that makes ownership a little more meaningful.
From Macclesfield to Kent
There is something we particularly enjoy about being able to trace the journey of a George Laybourne tie.
A printed silk might begin in Macclesfield, before travelling south to Kent, where it is transformed and hand-finished into the tie that eventually arrives in its George Laybourne box.
A grenadine takes a different journey, beginning with specialist weaving in Northern Italy before arriving in England for its final construction and finishing.
Different materials. Different origins.
The same standards.
The George Laybourne Approach
We are only at the beginning of the George Laybourne story.
But as the collections evolve, one principle will remain constant: provenance matters.
We want our customers to know where the materials come from, where their ties are made and why those decisions have been taken.
Not because heritage should be used as a marketing slogan, but because we believe the things we choose to wear should have a story behind them.
British craftsmanship has played an extraordinary role in the history of menswear.
We intend, in our own small way, to be part of its next chapter.
Made in Britain: Why It Matters to George Laybourne
For George Laybourne, British craftsmanship isn't simply something to print on a label. It is an important part of why the brand exists.
From the beginning, we wanted to create neckwear that reflected the traditions of British menswear: considered, understated and made to be worn for years rather than seasons.
That meant looking closer to home.
A Tradition Worth Preserving
Britain has a remarkable history of textile manufacturing and craftsmanship.
Nowhere is that more evident than in Macclesfield, Cheshire, a town whose relationship with silk stretches back centuries and which became synonymous with British silk printing and production.
It is here that the printed silks used for many George Laybourne designs begin their journey.
Working with specialist British manufacturers allows us to combine modern design with skills and processes developed over generations.
For us, that matters.
Because luxury should be about more than a name. It should be evident in the materials, the construction and the people responsible for making the finished product.
Hand-Finished in England
The final construction of our ties takes place in England.
Each tie is carefully hand-finished in Kent using traditional methods, with close attention paid to proportion, construction and the way the finished tie knots and drapes.
These are details that can easily go unnoticed.
We rather like that.
George Laybourne has never been about clothing that needs to announce itself. Often, the most important details are those appreciated by the person wearing it.
The weight of the silk.
The shape of the knot.
The way the blade falls.
The finishing visible when you turn the tie over.
Small details which, together, create something considerably more special.
British Made. Internationally Sourced.
Being committed to British craftsmanship doesn't mean pretending Britain is the only country capable of producing exceptional textiles.
Quite the opposite.
Where another country possesses a particular expertise, we believe it should be celebrated.
Our grenadine silks, for example, are woven in Northern Italy, where specialist mills possess generations of experience producing this distinctive open silk weave.
The finished ties are then hand-finished in England.
It's a philosophy we intend to maintain as George Laybourne grows:
Find exceptional materials from the places that make them best, while preserving British craftsmanship at the heart of the finished product.
Why Not Manufacture Somewhere Cheaper?
There are undoubtedly less expensive ways to make a tie.
For a young brand, choosing British manufacturing isn't necessarily the easiest route either.
But George Laybourne wasn't created to make the cheapest tie possible.
We want to build a British neckwear house with longevity.
That means developing relationships with skilled manufacturers, supporting specialist crafts and refusing to compromise simply to reduce the cost of production.
It also means producing in considered quantities rather than chasing volume.
Some George Laybourne designs will therefore be produced only in limited numbers. Once certain editions are gone, they may not return.
We believe that makes ownership a little more meaningful.
From Macclesfield to Kent
There is something we particularly enjoy about being able to trace the journey of a George Laybourne tie.
A printed silk might begin in Macclesfield, before travelling south to Kent, where it is transformed and hand-finished into the tie that eventually arrives in its George Laybourne box.
A grenadine takes a different journey, beginning with specialist weaving in Northern Italy before arriving in England for its final construction and finishing.
Different materials. Different origins.
The same standards.
The George Laybourne Approach
We are only at the beginning of the George Laybourne story.
But as the collections evolve, one principle will remain constant: provenance matters.
We want our customers to know where the materials come from, where their ties are made and why those decisions have been taken.
Not because heritage should be used as a marketing slogan, but because we believe the things we choose to wear should have a story behind them.
British craftsmanship has played an extraordinary role in the history of menswear.
We intend, in our own small way, to be part of its next chapter.