Through Jan. 18, the Landesmuseum Zürich (Swiss National Museum) in Zürich presents The Tie. Men Fashion Power, an engaging exhibition that explores men’s neckwear and what it can reveal about the wearer. The show demonstrates how a single accessory—by color, pattern, fabric and the way it is tied—can signal personal taste, social standing and even political outlook.
The exhibition traces the tie’s development from its historical origins to its contemporary forms, highlighting its role in self-expression and its presence across film, music, fine art and literature. It features archival material from principal fabric manufacturers around Zürich, including Weisbrod-Zürrer, Robt. Schwarzenbach & Co., Gessner and Stehli Seiden. Visitors can view pattern books, fabric samples, technical drawings and sketches that document design and production processes.
In addition to menswear, the show examines the tie’s influence in women’s fashion and its function within professional uniforms—whether for business, service industries or military dress. The exhibition also looks at how artists, rock stars and other celebrities have adopted and adapted the tie as part of their public image and stage personas, turning a functional piece of clothing into a powerful symbol.
Organized thematically, the exhibition presents ties as artifacts that reflect changing aesthetics and social codes. Displays compare materials and patterns across eras, demonstrate different tying techniques and show how subtle variations—such as width, knot style or placement—convey meaning. Contemporary examples sit alongside historical pieces to illustrate continuity and change in style.
By combining museum objects with archival documents, photographs and cultural references, the show offers a multifaceted view of the tie. The material on display reveals the craftsmanship behind woven and printed silk, the industrial history of textile production in the region, and the designers and manufacturers who shaped popular taste. Visitors gain insight into how commercial design and personal choice interact to create recognizable fashion signals.
The exhibition also addresses the tie’s symbolic power in workplace culture and dress codes. It considers how ties function as markers of authority, professionalism and membership, and how those meanings have shifted with evolving social norms. The curatorial approach encourages visitors to consider what their own choices of neckwear might communicate in different contexts.
Overall, The Tie. Men Fashion Power offers a richly illustrated investigation of a seemingly modest accessory that carries outsized cultural significance. Through objects, documents and visual media, the Landesmuseum Zürich invites visitors to rethink the tie as a lens onto fashion, identity and social history.