The economic downturn forced a lot of people to reinvent themselves and find a new way to make ends meet. Some went back to school to learn a new craft, while others freshened up their resume and applied for as many jobs as they could. In the end, many found themselves on a totally different career path. David Weed of Center Street Tie Shop in Kalispell was one of them.
Before the recession, when the Flathead Valley was lush with new construction projects, Weed owned his own concrete and drilling business, but eventually there just wasn’t enough work. So he and his wife Leah Weed started selling things online, particularly clothing. The couple would buy entire lots of clothing and then sell it piece by piece.
Weed, who in his spare time paints, was particularly interested in neckties and the artistic patterns on them. Unlike a shirt or a coat, a necktie is the perfect pallet for anyone’s personality.
Sometimes when they got some secondhand clothing, Weed would try and repair a used and abused tie, making it new again one stitch at a time. After taking apart enough ties and understanding how they were made, Weed thought he would try to fashion a few of his own. After a few failed attempts he finally had something presentable and his friends took notice. At first he gave a few away and then later he sold some.
Finally, in December 2013 he opened Center Street Tie Shop in Kalispell. Like many people, Weed had totally reinvented himself.
“I never thought I’d be sewing for a living,” he said. “It’s construction of a different kind.”
David and Leah still sell ties made elsewhere, especially fine European ones, but his custom-made ties are also starting to move off the shelves. Weed makes ties out of three types of material: silk, cotton and a cotton-silk hybrid. The cotton ties start at about $40 and the silk ones cost upwards of $80. Weed said silk is a less forgiving material and so if he makes a mistake “it’s an expensive one.”
While the materials and prices are different, all of Weed’s ties start the same, as a long piece of cloth. Sometimes it’s just a nice pattern Weed found at the store, but other times it’s one he created himself on his computer and had printed by a custom cloth company.
Weed uses a basic pattern to cut out the material and then places a tie shaped piece of wool on the cloth. The wool gives the tie its shape. Weed then folds and sews the tie together. From start to finish it takes about an hour and a half to carefully craft one tie. Weed can also make bowties, pocket squares and women’s mini ties.
Many of the ties Weed makes are of his own creation, although he’s often had customers order ties from custom patterns, especially those getting ready for weddings. Earlier this year, a University of Montana student athlete who was getting married ordered a handful of maroon and gray ties. One customer even ordered a camouflage tie.
Earlier this summer, the couple left their original location on Center Street and opened up shop on Main Street. Weed said the move has made a huge difference in sales, which in the first month doubled their best month at the previous location.
Weed has also started making shirts, but he said it might be a little while before he has one good enough to sell. Leah disagrees.
“He’s really good at whatever he does,” she said. “He’s just being modest.”
Weed said the move from construction to clothing still surprises him sometimes, but it’s one he doesn’t regret.
“My goal is to get local folks dressing a little nicer,” he said. “I know it’s Montana and people like to wear jeans and such, but why not look a little more professional. Why not wear a tie?”