Private Commissions

Beaded Necktie

2003

Commissioned by Nick Chiodini, Los Angeles, California
Medium: Glass beads, thread
Dimensions: 58 5/8 × 2 1/8 in.
Photograph: Courtesy of the artists

Commission Overview
By 2003, Nick Chiodini had already commissioned several works from us and remained one of our most loyal early supporters. For this commission, he wanted a beaded necktie—something that would carry the spirit of our wearable work but with the form and proportions of an actual tie. He requested a blue background with diagonal stripes in white, tan, and brown.

Artistic Approach
Up until this point, our loomed ties had followed the rigid logic of warp and weft—straight edges, square ends, and a uniform width throughout. For Nick’s tie, William experimented with shaping on the loom by increasing and decreasing bead counts, effectively narrowing or widening the strip row by row. This process allowed the tie to taper at the neck and flare at the bottom, mirroring the silhouette of a traditional necktie.

On the front, William loomed two sets of three diagonal stripes: white bands sandwiched between tan and brown. On the back, he carried the motif further, creating six sets of the triple-stripe pattern. The result was a tie with a blue ground, crisp diagonals, and the first appearance of a back panel narrower than the front—bringing it closer to the conventions of tailoring while still entirely constructed from beads.

Engagement and Impact
For Nick, the tie was both a personal commission and a continuation of his role as one of our earliest patrons. For us, it marked a technical breakthrough: the first time we broke free of the loom’s inherent rectangularity and pushed toward more sculptural, shaped beadwork.

Context and Legacy
This commission represents a key turning point in the evolution of our beaded neckties. By experimenting with increases and decreases, William began developing a language of shaping that carried forward into later ties and necklaces. Nick’s ongoing commitment—to commission multiple works, to encourage experimentation, and to believe in our vision—remains a powerful reminder of how friendships and support systems sustained us in the early years.