Arsenic and Old Lace: handmade ties for everyone from a Nottingham studio

The humble necktie has found a champion in Nottingham. Emma Moore, the founder, designer and maker behind Arsenic and Old Lace, has spent around a decade redefining the tie with bright colours, bold prints and a refreshingly relaxed attitude to who wears them.

Emma started the business in 2015 while on maternity leave, with a sewing machine and a love of fabric. The name comes from the 1944 film Arsenic and Old Lace, which she liked for its quirky, memorable feel, and it also felt fitting as a nod to Nottingham's lace heritage. As she told LeftLion, she is "born and bred in Nottingham", and her love of the city and region runs through her work.

Everything is made in her Nottingham studio, where Emma selects, cuts, sews, checks and packs each piece herself. The range covers neckties, self-tie and pre-tied bow ties, pocket squares, cufflinks and wedding accessories, plus children's bow ties so little ones can match. Fabrics include cotton, wool and tweed alongside floral, botanical and heritage-inspired prints, with Liberty London fabrics and William Morris designs among her favourites.

Many collections are named after places in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the wider Midlands. The Nottingham design is a bright take on William Morris's Strawberry Thief, while Sherwood uses a Liberty print with fruit motifs in mauve, sage green and pale blue. Emma has cited Paul Smith, another Nottingham-founded business, as an inspiration.

Inclusivity is central to the brand. "I really did want it to be about ties for everyone," Emma says, and her customers are split between men and women. "There are no set rules now, so ties don't have to specifically be for men." She also makes bespoke family ties from garments belonging to loved ones, such as a grandfather's shirts, creating keepsakes with real meaning.

The ties have travelled far beyond the East Midlands, with orders shipped to customers in 42 countries and many in the USA. For a business that began with one sewing machine during maternity leave, it is a joyful success story, and a reminder that a really good tie can lift any outfit.

Collections, wedding accessories and free fabric swatches are available on the Arsenic and Old Lace website.