What does a tie mean to you?

By Agni Amorita

JAKARTA (JP): Murdjadi Ichsan, 44, public relations coordinator at RCTI, is obsessed with neckties. For Ichsan, owner of 1,480 ties, a tie is more than just an accessory for his daily outfit.

"I have been collecting ties since I was in junior high," he said. "Most of them, more than 1000, are collectors items which are known as limited editions."

Ichsan obtained his collections mostly by mail order. His hobby connects him to many people from other countries. "I have many friends abroad. Everyone who knows about my tie collections sends me tie brochures from their countries."

Ichsan buys an average of 10 ties every month. There were times when he bought dozens of them. "Once, I bought all limited edition ties offered by one company, about 30 to 50 items."

On the other hand he might buy nothing, "especially after the monetary crisis", he laughed.

Ichsan, who started collecting ties 30 years ago, say he now owns almost every kind of tie. "I have the complete series of The Beatles, Van Gogh, Jimmy Hendrix, Marylin Monroe and even Bart Simpson's Family."

Ichsan explained that every limited edition tie is officially registered with a serial number. For fun, Ichsan also buys special ties such as fish-shaped, lobster-shaped, even crocodile- shaped ties.

"Every time I wear those animal-shaped ties, people get crazy and always pulls it around," Ichsan said. As a tie lover, Ichsan takes good care of his collection. "Actually, there is no special treatment. For maintenance, I only hang them outdoors once a week."

But not all Indonesian businessman are as enthusiastic as Ichsan. Meet Kepra, the famous master of ceremony of a regular quiz show on various TV stations, said that his most creative days are when he wears a T-shirt and jeans.

"Wearing a tie makes me feel very restricted," admitted Kepra, 42, whose real name is Marcus Prasetya. "But as a professional master of ceremony I have to follow the rules, especially because I am asked mostly to appear in suits with a tie," he said.

Kepra used to wear thongs in his first years as a university student. He started wearing shoes only after he was elected president of the School of Economics's Senate at the University of Indonesia in 1980. "I prefer to buy famous-brand ties such as Cerutti or Armani, because they are durable and comfortable," explained Kepra.

He buys his branded ties when he goes overseas for vacation with his family, usually when his daughter is on school holidays.

"It means that I only buy those branded outfits in the season sales," he smiled, adding that they could be as much as five times cheaper than the price in Indonesia.

Kepra has not gone on one of his foreign shopping sprees for the last two years. "Because now the price is rocketing," he laughed. "I would not spent more than Rp 1 million or more for only a tie."

Tony Arief, marketing manager of PT Camilla Internusa Film, whose international clients include big stars Kevin Costner and Mel Gibson, also buys his branded ties abroad.

"I bought branded ties such as Versace or Armani in order to be trendy," he said with a smile.

But he said most of his ties are not branded. "I have mostly Hong Kong-made ties, which cost only Rp 30,000 each," said Tony, executive producer of Cinema Cinema, aired every Saturday on RCTI.

"As long as the tie's color is in harmony with my suit I can wear it with full confidence," he said. "Wearing a tie does make somebody looked more professional, but sometimes it's just on the surface because somebody's skill is not judged from his appearance, and actually I don't like wearing ties. It's just my job that requires me to do it," he admitted.

Ichsan, however, believes a tie is important for building one's personal confidence. "It makes people feel more secure with his appearance, looking more professional."

Ties also function as fashion items.

"Now people likes plain color ties in a regular slim shape," said Ichsan.

Back in the mid-1990s, Versace ties, with their famous bright colors, were quite popular. Kepra said he wore the ties "in solidarity" with his friends at the Indonesian Young Businessmen's Council, who were Versace-minded activists. While Tony Arief at that time fancied matching his bright tie with a gold-plated Versace watch, tiepin, and cufflink.

"Matching the tie with the pin and cufflink from the same certain series is recommended," explained Tom Wilkinson, an Indonesian antique textile collector from England. He said, "But it is not absolutely necessary because we can match various items as long as they are suitable."

Further advice comes from fashion designer Ramli, who almost never wears a tie. "A masculine scarf can change the presence of a tie in a formal suit, which is also very suitable for our hot tropical weather," he said. Ramli himself changed his formal trousers with sarong batik baggy trousers to be matched with his scarf. Well, the choice is yours.