Certain things make sense coming from the Mile High City, like Stellar Jay's new ties. The ties celebrate the spirit of the West with one of its classic fabrics, leather, harnessed in a unique way in neckwear.
Stellar Jay is the creation of Zach Blaine in RiNo. "All of my products are cut from full leather hides in small batches. From there, I work with a small network of seamstress locally to perform the stitch work," he explains.
While the ties are, well, tied, leather, obviously, isn’t as pliable as silk or cotton or other materials commonly used for neckties. "The leather neckties . . . are all made from suede leather, which is more pliable than other leathers," Blaine says.
"This material folds easily in your hand and the narrow cut allows for an easy fold. That being said, the best knot for this kind of tie is a four-in-hand," Blaine says. "A full Windsor knot could be a challenge. The neckties are approximately 1/16-inch in thickness. The bow ties fasten with an adjustable leather strap."
The leather ties are relatively simple, basically a single color and with stitching on the edge, which Blaine says offers structure and durability to the tie. "The stitching also adds a nice contrast to the color of the tie and helps draw the eye to the necktie. As long as the tie is properly cared for it should have exceptional longevity -- untying the tie after use and hanging the tie on a hanger to avoid wrinkles."
Both Zach and his brother are building businesses out of their RiNo Apartment. His brother is designing furniture from repurposed materials in Cambodia, which is currently only for sale in Cambodia but has plans to expand to the U.S. Meanwhile Stellar Jay is currently available online, but Blaine is looking to get into physical locations.
"I am targeting primarily small boutiques, which already capture the aesthetic we are looking for," Blaine says. The ties are available at Decade, Fancy Tiger, Steadbrook and Berkeley Supply and other stores in Denver.
Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Chris Meehan with tips and leads for future stories at chris@confluence-denver.com.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.