Consider, if you will, the long, tumultuous history of the necktie. In the 70’s, the Disco Era, you had ties so wide they could double as lobster bibs. In the much cooler 80’s, they went skinny, which in itself was a revival of 50’s fashion. Then of course, there always the threat of competition with bowties, which occasionally enjoy a resurgence of popularity in certain circles, especially when a Time Lord wears one.
Yes, QR Codes are indeed everywhere…
So, what does the 21st century have in store for the next stage in necktie evolution? How about combining the necktie with two hot concepts, namely QR Codes and Kickstarter? Yes, we’re talking about fashionable neckties with QR Codes printed on them.
Presenting QR Tie
Armed with the slogan “Tech For Your Neck”, QR Tie is engaged in raising $40,000 through Kickstarter in order get their company off the ground. Their first six ties are hand-assembled right here in the good old US of A, and are named after fashionable male Hollywood icons (Cary Grant, Sidney Poitier, Vincent Price, Charlie Chaplin, Sean Connery, and Jimmy Stewart). As a result, people who you meet can scan the code with their smart phones and that’s when the magic happens.
The way it works is simple: you get an account on QR Tie and with it you can control where the code sends people. So maybe you set the code so that during business hours it sends people to your business website, or your LinkedIn account, or any other impressive businessy site.
Then, when the sun goes down and it’s time to hit the town, you program the code to direct your new acquaintances to your Facebook profile or Google Plus page. Truly, this is could revolutionize networking and socializing. At the very least, it could save a man a lot of money in having to print up business cards.
It’s Not A Hoverboard, But It’ll Do
We all know that the future (for best results, those two words should be said in a booming, dramatic voice) would yield some truly funky applications of cutting edge technology, but holy cats! If this catches on, it could become an essential part of the wardrobe of any sharp-dressed man (and rumor has it that every girl is crazy for such men, if 80’s songs are to be believed).
The beauty of these ties is that the QR Code is that it’s not immediately visible, as each tie bears the code on the back, so you don’t feel like you’re wearing a QR Code-embedded advertisement around your neck. Just subtly flip the tie over and expose the code for all of the eager masses to scan on their phones and you’re good to go.
Manly Yes, But I Like It Too!
Anyone who recognizes that header is dating themselves, just so’s you know. In any event, there’s no reason why women need to be left out. After all, women schmooze and network as well, right? And sometimes women incorporate a tie as a fashion statement, and there have been times when wearing men’s accessories was all the rage, like the Annie Hall look (yikes, talk about dating onself!). But anyways, bottom line is, the power and the glory of these ties can be worn by men or women, at work or play.
Byline: John Terra has been a freelance writer since 1985.
Photo Credit: Photopin.com
