CASTRIOTA

CASTRIOTA

Neckwear of noble heritage

Ties named for the house of Kastrioti, the medieval Albanian family whose double-headed eagle became the symbol of a nation.

SEE THE COLLECTION

HERITAGE

The house behind the name

The Kastrioti were an Albanian noble family who ruled their own principality in the 14th and 15th centuries. Their best-known son, Gjergj Kastrioti, is remembered as Skanderbeg.

Castriota is the form the name took in Latin and Italian, and the one the family's descendants in Italy still carry. We chose it for a house that makes ties: an old name, worn close to the collar.

  • NAMEFrom the Latin castrum, a castle or fortified place.
  • 1443On 28 November, Skanderbeg raised his family's standard: a black double-headed eagle on red.
  • 1451The Kastrioti arms, with the eagle and a six-pointed star, appear in a book given to Skanderbeg by Alfonso V of Naples.
  • TODAYThe same eagle flies on the flag of Albania.

COLLECTION

The first collection

Crowns, laurels, spirals and suns, woven in gold. Each tie carries a name from the Latin and Illyrian past of the Albanian lands.

  • CROIA

    The crest

    Solid oxblood with a single gold eagle below the knot. Croia is the Latin name of Krujë.

  • SCODRA

    The crowns

    Bordeaux with gold crowns in a diamond lattice. Scodra was the seat of the Illyrian kings.

  • TEUTA

    The spirals

    Royal purple with gold double spirals, an ornament of Illyrian jewellery. Named for the Illyrian queen.

  • DYRRACHIUM

    The Greek key

    Midnight navy with bands of gold meander. Dyrrachium is the Roman name of Durrës, where the Via Egnatia began.

  • APOLLONIA

    The laurels

    Deep green with gold laurel branches, the wreath of victors. Named for the ancient city where the young Octavian studied.

  • GENTIUS

    The suns

    Black with gold eight-rayed suns in a fine lattice. Named for the last king of the Illyrians.

THE EMBLEM

Three parts, one mark

THE EAGLE

Two heads and spread wings, after the double-headed eagle of the Kastrioti.

THE TIE

The eagle's body is a knotted tie, so the mark says what we make.

THE STAR

The six-pointed star that sits above the eagle in the family arms.

CONTACT

Enquiries and orders

For enquiries and orders, write to [email protected].