E. Marinella

E. Marinella: Naples, a silk scarf, and the discipline of elegance

Since 1914, a small shop on the Riviera di Chiaia in Naples has been cultivating a simple but enduring idea: elegance is not a coincidence, but a daily attitude – precise, polite, uncompromising.

Eugenio Marinella opened his boutique as "a little piece of England in Naples": hand-printed silks from Great Britain, English fragrances, rainproof pragmatism – Nordic discipline in the warm light of the south. This tension gave rise to a signature style that has endured for more than a century.

Even today, the boutique at Via Riviera di Chiaia 287 opens early in the morning – a quiet start that allows the city to wake up and recalls a time when style was a matter of self-respect.

Marinella

The name Marinella has become synonymous with care in men's fashion. Its story begins in 1914 in a space barely twenty square meters in size on the Neapolitan coast. From the outset, the concept was unusually precise: a "Little Corner of England." Hand-printed silks, Aquascutum raincoats, perfumes from Floris and Penhaligon's, hats from Lock & Co. – English austerity reinterpreted through Neapolitan charm. This tension – discipline meets temperament – continues to define the brand today.

Many call him "the tie king from Naples" because he turns a narrow strip of silk into an expression of attitude. Behind the success are not anecdotes, but method: hand-printed silk, a pattern world of dots, rosettes, and geometries cultivated over decades, and complete handcraftsmanship – from cutting to sewn tips. The colors retain their fine, matte sheen, the patterns their visual calm. Elegance here comes not from effects, but from control.

The fact that E. Marinella has long been part of fashion history was demonstrated by the exhibition Items: Is Fashion Modern? at MoMA New York (2017/18): among 111 iconic pieces, the museum also presented Marinella ties – not as accessories, but as cultural objects, as pieces of design history. Anyone who wears a Marinella is part of a tradition that even museums preserve.

Diplomacy also has its fabrics. Even in the post-war period, Marinella ties were considered unofficial gifts to state guests. There is an anecdote about a box of five ties – a fine gesture, a piece of soft power in silk. But behind all this, the core remains the same: precision and courtesy, condensed into a strip of fabric.

Marinella in Germany

A special connection leads to Germany. Through his friend Giuseppe Attolini, Michael Jondral became an official partner of E. Marinella in 2007. To this day, his store in Hanover is the only point of sale in German-speaking Europe. Anyone who looks at the range there understands that at Marinella, the tie is not an accessory, but the centerpiece of the ensemble. Or, as Jondral says: "A shirt without a tie is like the sky without stars."

Marinella tie

A Marinella tie is not an accessory, but the centerpiece of every ensemble!

This starts with the material: hand-printed silk, whose micro-patterns – small flowers, dots, geometric grids – form their own grammar. The silk cloth is cut, folded, and sewn. The classic is the 3-fold tie; there are also 5-, 7-, and 9-fold models. The more folds, the more architectural the shape and the more characterful the knot. In the Sette Pieghe (7-fold), volume is created from the silk itself – without inserts, solely through folding. The result: depth instead of decoration.

Everyday wear proves what the technique promises: a navy blue with microflowers takes the edge off gray flannel; a burgundy tone with small geometric patterns brings calm to a blue suit. Regimental stripes lend authority without being loud; grenadine and wool variants provide structure when the season demands it.

Care is part of the ritual: don't wear ties on consecutive days, let them steam after wearing, treat stains professionally – a quiet routine that has always made Marinella the antithesis of disposable fashion.

The house also remains precise when it comes to measurements. For tall wearers, there are extra-long ties measuring 156 cm – a small but crucial detail that ensures the tip and back fall harmoniously. The principle: it is not the wearer who adapts to the tie, but the tie that adapts to the wearer.

The pattern culture resembles a living archive. Archivio collections take up historical prints – rosettes from the 1930s, finely set dot grids – and translate them into modern contrasts. The English silk tradition – hand-printed, color-controlled, with a dry sheen – is still evident today. Even innovations – grenadine, wool, seasonal blends – fit in as variations on a strict theme.

E. Marinella Napoli

E. Marinella Napoli is more than a name – it is an address with a ritual. Those who open the door at Riviera di Chiaia 287 in the morning enter a room of gray-green marble, glass, and bronze letters. A place that does not explain its tradition, but shows it. On the first floor, a discreet showroom welcomes visitors – a space for measurements, fabrics, and conversations in which decisions are made that will later shape style. Here, elegance does not begin with words, but with the hand: cutting, folding, sewing.

From Naples, the line now extends to Capri, Rome, Milan, Turin, Rapallo, London (Burlington Arcade), and Tokyo. The London address, nestled in iron and glass, is almost symbolic: Italian craftsmanship in an English setting – the dialectic from which the house was born.

The fact that MoMA included Marinella ties in "Items: Is Fashion Modern?" shows the span from everyday life to the museum – from the knot in the morning to the exhibit. And the diplomatic note remains alive: for decades, ties from the Riviera di Chiaia accompanied ministers, ambassadors, and heads of state. In London, it is said that Enrico De Nicola, Italy's first president, presented state guests with a box of five ties – a gesture of courtesy and connection.

This thread continues from Naples to Hanover. Michael Jondral has been running E. Marinella since 2007 and is still considered the only point of sale in the German-speaking world. His selection seems like a translation of the Neapolitan attitude: commitment instead of loudness, substance instead of seasonality. In addition to classic ties, he offers hand-printed silk accessories such as glasses cases, key rings, and soon jeans with Marinella silk lining – a contemporary continuation of Naples' silk language.

FAQ – E. Marinella & the Marinella tie

What is E. Marinella?

E. Marinella is a traditional Neapolitan menswear house founded in Naples in 1914. The brand is internationally renowned for its hand-printed silk ties, which are still made entirely by hand today.

What is E. Marinella particularly known for?

E. Marinella is considered the epitome of classic elegance and is best known for its iconic Marinella ties. The brand stands for hand-printed silk, timeless patterns, and a combination of English discipline and Neapolitan style.

Where was E. Marinella founded?

E. Marinella was founded in 1914 at Riviera di Chiaia 287 in Naples. The boutique is still located at the same address today and is considered a cultural institution of the city.

Why is Marinella referred to as a "Little Corner of England"?

Eugenio Marinella originally conceived his boutique as a "Little Corner of England" in Naples. It sold hand-printed English silks, British fragrances, and accessories – a Nordic austerity of form interpreted in a Neapolitan context.

How is a Marinella tie made?

A Marinella tie is made from hand-printed silk. The fabric is cut to size, folded several times, and sewn entirely by hand. Depending on the model, 3-fold, 5-fold, 7-fold, or 9-fold ties are created – without industrial inserts.

What is a Sette Pieghe tie?

The Sette Pieghe (7-fold) tie is a traditional folding technique in which volume is created exclusively by folding the silk. It does not use any inserts and is considered particularly challenging to manufacture.

What patterns are typical for Marinella ties?

Marinella is known for its fine micro patterns such as dots, rosettes, geometric grids, and regimental stripes. Some of the patterns come from historical archives and are regularly reinterpreted in modern color combinations.

Why are Marinella ties considered timeless?

Marinella ties do not rely on fashionable effects, but on control, proportion, and color discipline. This means they can be worn for decades and are not subject to short-lived trends.

Is E. Marinella part of fashion history?

Yes. Marinella ties were featured in the 2017/18 MoMA exhibition "Items: Is Fashion Modern?" in New York – as design and cultural objects, not just fashion accessories.

What role does E. Marinella play in diplomacy?

For decades, Marinella ties were considered discreet gifts in a diplomatic context. There is a well-known anecdote that Italian state guests were presented with Marinella ties as a sign of courtesy and style.

Where can you buy E. Marinella in Germany?

In Germany, Michael Jondral's store in Hanover has been the only officially authorized point of sale for E. Marinella in the German-speaking world since 2007.

What lengths does Marinella offer for ties?

In addition to classic lengths, E. Marinella also offers extra-long ties measuring approximately 156 cm to ensure harmonious proportions for taller wearers.

How do you properly care for a Marinella tie?

A Marinella tie should not be worn on consecutive days. After wearing, it is recommended to steam it. Stains should only be treated professionally to preserve the silk and print.

Does Marinella offer other products besides ties?

Yes. In addition to ties, E. Marinella offers hand-printed silk accessories such as pocket squares, glasses cases, and key rings. New product categories are also being developed for the future.

Why is the Marinella tie considered the centerpiece of an outfit?

At Marinella, the tie is not an accessory, but the central accent of an ensemble. Color, pattern, and volume determine the effect of the entire outfit.