Juneteenth Tie

Description

The Statesman Ties Juneteenth Tie is our first foray into designing and producing a tie that isn’t derived from a flag which represents a country or State.

The main reason we created this tie stemmed from the Black Lives Matter movement from the Summer of 2020. The centuries-long racial tensions regarding Black Lives came to a boil during that time, thus bringing to the forefront for many cultures and countries around the world the need for more understanding regarding the suppression (overtly or covertly) of Black people. We wanted to do something – in our own small way – to show our support and stand-up for equality.

We then reached out to a good friend – D.L. Mitchell from @DapperDaddysHaberdashery – and asked him if he’d like to collaborate on this project and help us create a Juneteenth Tie. Being the gentleman that he is, he said yes!

The reason for the Juneteenth celebration is because June 19, 1865, represents the day that enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas, became Americans under the law. Galveston was where Union soldiers informed the country’s last remaining enslaved people that, under the Emancipation Proclamation issued two years earlier, they were free. (Source: here)

The Juneteenth flag “is the brainchild of activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF). Haith created the flag in 1997 with the help of collaborators, and Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf brought their vision to life. (Source: here)

We used the Juneteenth flag as the inspiration for the tie. The main symbol on the flag is the white star in the center. That had to be the main symbol we highlighted on the tie. The red and blue stripes from the flag were an easy addition to make this a true rep tie. There was some back and forth regarding the white stripe in the tie and how it separates the red and blue stripes. D.L. was hesitant about the white stripe at first, but then, after talking it through, it was decided that the white needed to be represented more throughout the tie. It is also a nice contrasting  color to help break-up the red and blue pattern.

• 61″ long x 3.25″ wide
• 100% woven silk
• If you would like, you can choose the added option of a customized tag for the back of your tie. We embroider each tag. You can add a message with up to 21 characters – including spaces – per line (max two lines of text) and then we attach each tag onto the back of your tie; creating a very unique tie for yourself or that special guy in your life.

A little more about the symbols and meanings of the Juneteenth flag:

The star

The white star in the center of the flag has a dual meaning, Haith said.

For one, it represents Texas, the Lone Star State. It was in Galveston in 1865 where Union soldiers informed the country’s last remaining enslaved people that, under the Emancipation Proclamation issued two years earlier, they were free

But the star also goes beyond Texas, representing the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states.

The burst

The bursting outline around the star is inspired by a nova, a term that astronomers use to mean a new star.

On the Juneteenth flag, this represents a new beginning for the African Americans of Galveston and throughout the land.

The arc

The curve that extends across the width of the flag represents a new horizon: the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for black Americans.

The colors

The red, white and blue represents the American flag, a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.

Source: here