Play the Game of Life
Ryan Petersen's Blog

By far my coolest friend has recently conceived and launched Tais Ties, a Yakuza-inspired line of neckties.

We actually started working on this project together 15 months ago, but I soon realized the fashion world was my outside domain of expertise and resigned. My friend--he prefers to remain anonymous so the brand will have little more mystery--was so passionate about this project that he never thought about letting it go after I stepped off to the side.

He's since developed a whole series of extremely high quality ties, each designed to represent a different aspect of Japanese mafia culture. He's having them hand produced right here in Manhattan by the same small shop that makes ties for some of the world's most famous necktie lines. A few weeks ago he launched a gorgeous e-commerce site at www.taisties.com, he's starting to get awesome reviews from people that matter in that world. And word is, he's already begun making some serious sales.

I just bought my second tie from the company. The first I got just to support his project, I'll admit. But after the first day I actually wore it, I realized that these funky designer neckties actually make you feel like you have some fashion sense, instead of just being a another boring goon in a tie.

When I handed back my 50% of the equity, I knew I might someday regret it, when the brand was worth $100 million and he was surrounded by runway models all the time. Turns out I regret it already, and I don't know if he's even made a profit yet.

If you want to get one, e-mail me for the online discount code... I recommend the "Dirty Business" tie.

Labels: entrepreneurship, Neckties