Custom collars

About a third of the work I do is custom — collars made from a tie that belonged to someone specific. A grandfather's tie. A father who passed away. A wedding tie. The tie someone wore at every family Christmas for thirty years until it was retired. These are the orders I take most care with.

How it works

1. Get in touch. Email [email protected] with: the dog's neck size, the collar style you want (Classic or Button-down), and a brief description of the tie (silk/wool/polyester, condition, what the pattern is like). A photo of the tie is helpful if you have one.
2. Quote and instructions. I come back within a couple of days with a quote (typically $65–$85 for custom — slightly more than ready-made because of the additional care and risk of working with someone else's tie) and an address to send the tie to.
3. Send the tie. Padded envelope or small box; tracked shipping is worth the small additional cost because the tie matters. I'll confirm receipt as soon as it arrives.
4. I get to work. Custom collars take 3–4 weeks from receipt to dispatch. I'm careful with the cutting. The tie's pattern is centered on the collar face, and I leave as much of the tie's original construction visible as possible.
5. Photo before dispatch. I send a photo of the finished collar for your sign-off before mailing.
6. Final payment and shipping. Final balance payable on dispatch.

What I can and can't do

What works well:

• Most silk, wool, polyester, and rayon ties from any era
• Ties with significant wear or fading — character is part of what makes the collar feel personal
• Hand-painted ties (delicate but doable; we'd talk about whether the finished collar should be primarily indoor-wear)
• Bow ties — different construction technique, but I do them; the resulting collar has a more pronounced central element

What doesn't work:

• Severely damaged ties (large holes, missing sections, structural fraying). I can sometimes work with these — write to me and we'll talk through it.
• Bolo ties (different construction; not a fit for my collar shapes)
• Modern skinny ties (too narrow to make a comfortable collar. The resulting piece is too thin)

Pricing

Custom collar pricing:

• Custom Classic — $65 (small), $72 (medium), $78 (large)
• Custom Button-down — $78 (small), $85 (medium), $92 (large)
• Shipping to me — your cost
• Shipping to you — $8 standard, $15 expedited

Slightly higher than ready-made because of the additional care, the longer lead time, and the higher stakes of working with a tie that can't be replaced if anything goes wrong.

Memorial pieces. The most-asked custom job

About half of custom orders are memorial pieces — a tie from someone who's passed away, turned into a collar for the dog who knew them (or for the family dog more generally). These orders involve a different kind of care than commercial work. A few notes:

• I treat memorial ties with extra care. The cutting decisions are made conservatively — leaving the maximum amount of the tie's original construction visible.
• I keep all the offcuts and return them to you with the collar. If anything's left of the tie after the collar is made, you have it back, for future repairs to the collar or as a separate keepsake.
• I'm happy to talk through the request before you commit. Some people find it cathartic; others find the idea of the tie being cut up too much. Both reactions are valid; there's no right answer.

Other custom requests

Less common but doable:

• Wedding tie collar — a collar made from the groom's tie for the family dog. Often commissioned as a wedding gift; lead time matters so plan ahead.
• Family ties combined — collars made from several ties layered or pieced together. Larger projects; longer lead times; quoted individually.
• Bow-tie collars — different construction but a popular variant for dressier occasions.
• Multiple matching collars — sets of collars from a single tie (e.g., the family dog's three Corgis all getting a piece of the same grandfather's tie). Pricing scales sub-linearly.

FAQ

What if the tie isn't long enough? Most adult-size ties are. Boys' ties or particularly short ties can sometimes only make a small-size collar. Write before sending and I can usually tell you in advance.

Can I have the collar match a current piece I own? Yes, with a description or photo for reference. I can match buckle colour, D-ring placement, and the general style. I can't replicate a specific tie's pattern, but I can suggest patterns from my own stock that have similar feel if you'd rather not send a personal piece.

What if I don't like the finished collar? I send a photo before dispatch for sign-off. If something looks wrong at that stage, I'll redo what I can. If the collar arrives and isn't right, write to me — I'll try to make it work. Custom orders aren't returnable as such (the tie can't be reused), but I'd rather have a happy customer than a delivered-but-disappointed one.

Get in touch

Email [email protected]. For memorial pieces particularly, no rush — I'm happy to talk through the request before any tie is sent.