Journal

CBS Host Wears Olaf Olsson

Over the past few months, I have been excited to see Tony Dokoupil, one of the hosts of "CBS This Morning," adding a few Olaf Olsson neckties to hi...

Japanese Patterns & Designs

In general, wagara means a Japanese pattern or design. These traditional and historic designs each have a very specific meaning and are often assoc...

Katsushika Hokusai and Olaf Olsson neckties and batwing bow ties.

An Old Man Mad About Art

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist born on October 23, 1760 in Edo Japan. He left an enduring legacy of art that still influences the world t...

Sensu, Hanakatoba, Seigaiha, and Colorful Neckwear.

We love Japanese fabrics that are chock full of imagery and meaning. The "Fans & Flowers" necktie and batwing bow tie by Olaf Olsson are no ex...

Kasuri: the Traditional Art of Japanese Dyeing and Weaving.

Traditional Japanese Kasuri fabrics are created using a method of weaving together threads that have a pattern dyed into them. The patterns are cre...

Mount Fuji, Hokusai, and Olaf Olsson Neckties and Batwing Bow Ties

Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. It lies 60 miles to the south-west of Tokyo and on a clear day it is possible to see the snow capped p...

Katagami, Katazome, and Olaf Olsson Neckties and Batwing Bow Ties

Katagami is the Japanese art of using paper stencils to create patterns on cloth and paper. Katagami has been used in Japan for centuries with evid...

The 1970's and Weapons for Kids

I felt so lucky when I found the cache of vintage 1970’s fabric that I used to develop my “Lost in the 70’s” necktie collection. It also reminded ...

Wabi Sabi and the Tea Master

In late April of 1591 one of the greatest Japanese tea masters of all time, Sen no Rikyū, committed Harakiri at the request of the great Samurai Ge...

Hanakotoba, Ikebana, and Olaf Olsson Neckwear.

Hanakotoba is the ancient Japanese art of assigning meaning to flowers. In many cultures flowers can be seen as having some deeper meaning than ju...

Don Shelby, name sake of the Shelby know AKA the Pratt knot, and Olaf Olsson neckties.

Don Shelby and how to tie a perfect Pratt Knot

When Jerry Pratt, an executive at the US Chamber of Commerce, walked into the Minneapolis WCCO TV station he had no idea he was going to create the...

Shibori and Olaf Olsson Neckwear, Neckties, and Batwing Bow Ties.

The Japanese Art of Shibori

Shibori is the Japanese art of dying fabric and garments using a technique of resist dying that produces intricate patterns. It is an ancient art i...