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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Italy -> France -> Japan

Emanuel Ungaro started his own fashion house in Paris in 1965, after working for the legendary designer Cristobal Balenciaga for six years. This tie's large label proclaims, "Emanuel Ungaro - Modèle Déposé," which means "registered pattern" according to this dictionary. There is a smaller label on the tail end indicating that the tie was made in Italy of 100% silk. Then there is one more label sewn into the opening of the tail end that says "100% silk, Mitsukoshi," which I take to mean that it was originally sold through a Mitsukoshi department store in Japan, probably in the 80s judging by its 3-inch width and modern print style. The Mitsukoshi chain traces its roots back to a single kimono shop that opened in Edo (now Tokyo) in 1673. How's that for provenance?

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