​Ties is not only a vital component of the uniform system in campus life, but also a “miniature business card” that carries the school’s culture and distinguishes different roles. Through variations in color, pattern, and material, different types of school ties not only meet the requirements of campus etiquette but also contain unique educational symbolic meanings. From daily wear to special occasions, and from student styles to faculty styles, school ties can be categorized in various ways, with each type having its own specific usage scenarios and cultural value.​

Categorization by Function and Usage Scenario: The “Dual Identity” of Daily Ties and Ceremonial Ties​

The core logic for classifying school ties revolves around two major scenarios: “daily wear” and “special occasions”. These two types have clear distinctions in design details and usage norms.​

1. Daily Commute Ties: Low-Key and Practical “Basic Campus Style”​

This type of tie is the “standard equipment” for students to wear with their uniforms in daily life and is also the most common style on campus. The core of its design lies in “simplicity and durability”. The colors are mostly based on the school’s main color palette, avoiding overly bright or complex patterns to ensure that students conform to etiquette in scenarios such as classes and breaks without being distracted by excessive decorations. For example, the daily ties of many public middle schools are in solid dark blue, dark gray, or burgundy, with only a tiny embroidered school emblem abbreviation at the end of the tie. Some schools add low-key elements such as thin stripes or small checks, which not only break the monotony of solid colors but also maintain an overall sense of formality.​

In terms of material, daily ties are mostly made of a polyester-cotton blend fabric. This material is not only moderately priced and easy to produce in bulk but also wrinkle-resistant and easy to clean, making it suitable for students who wear and wash their ties frequently every day. In terms of size, the length and width of daily student ties are adjusted according to the age group. Ties for junior high school freshmen are usually 6-7 centimeters wide, while those for senior high school students are 7-8 centimeters wide, ensuring a harmonious proportion with the students’ body shapes.​

2. Ceremonial Occasion Ties: Honor-Bearing “Campus Formal Style”​

When the campus hosts formal events such as opening ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, school anniversaries, important competitions, or international exchanges, “ceremonial ties” become an important carrier to showcase the school’s image. This type of tie is more “recognizable” in design and often incorporates the school’s core cultural symbols.​

For instance, the graduation ceremony ties of some schools adopt a “school color gradient” design, transitioning from light colors for lower grades to dark colors for higher grades, symbolizing the growth and transformation of academic life. Other schools embroider the “school motto abbreviation” or the “complete school emblem pattern” on ceremonial ties and match them with silk fabrics to enhance the overall sense of formality and ceremony. In addition, for the ceremonial ties of school representative teams (such as debate teams and sports teams), exclusive logos (such as team emblems or star patterns) are added, serving as a symbol of the team’s identity.​

Categorization by Design Elements: The “Personalized Expression” of Color, Pattern, and Logo​

Beyond functional scenarios, school ties can also be classified by “design elements”. Different colors, patterns, and logos carry different information and connotations, turning the tie into a “silent language” on campus.​

1. Color Classification: Hiding the “Identity Code”​

The color selection of school ties is by no means random; it is often directly linked to “identity” and “occasion”, forming a hidden “identification system”.​

• Student Tie Colors: Based on the school’s “main color + auxiliary color”, some schools use colors to distinguish grades. For example, seventh-grade students wear light blue ties, eighth-grade students wear blue ties, and ninth-grade students wear dark blue ties. This not only allows teachers to quickly identify students’ grades but also adds a sense of hierarchy to the campus dress code. Some schools also design colors according to “subject characteristics”. For example, science experimental classes wear green ties (symbolizing rationality and vitality), while liberal arts experimental classes wear red ties (symbolizing humanity and passion).​
• Faculty Tie Colors: Mostly in calm dark tones such as dark purple, dark brown, and navy blue, which are different from the bright-colored ties of students, reflecting the professionalism and stability of teachers. The ties of school leaders (such as principals and directors) may have subtle gold patterns on a dark background, maintaining formality while highlighting their identities.​
• Special Occasion Colors: For special occasions such as anniversaries and mourning days, schools will launch ties of exclusive colors. For example, on the school anniversary, ties in “retro colors” related to the school’s founding year are worn (e.g., a school founded in 1950 may choose retro burgundy), while on mourning days, plain black or gray ties are worn to convey emotions and attitudes through color.​

2. Pattern Classification: Style Differences from “Simplicity” to “Exquisiteness”​

Patterns are the “finishing touch” in the design of school ties. Different pattern styles reflect the school’s aesthetic orientation and cultural temperament.​

• Simple Patterns: Mainly including “thin stripes”, “small checks”, and “polka dots”, which are the mainstream choices for daily ties. Thin stripes symbolize “order and rigor” and are suitable for schools that emphasize discipline and norms. Small checks are more “lively and friendly” and are commonly seen in primary or junior high school campuses. Polka dot patterns are mostly decorated with small light-colored dots, adding a sense of playfulness and being suitable for younger students.​
• Thematic Patterns: These patterns are often deeply integrated with the school’s “characteristic culture” and are a common design for ceremonial ties. For example, patterns inspired by “campus landmarks” (such as simplifying the outline of the school bell tower or library into line patterns), patterns centered on the “school-running philosophy” (such as forming a continuous pattern with elements like “books”, “pen tips”, and “wings”), and some schools even integrate “school history stories” into patterns (such as using different pattern segments to tell the school’s development history), turning the tie into a “wearable school history book”.​

3. Logo Classification: “Identity Authentication” with Exclusive Symbols​

Logos are the “core memory points” of school ties. Through exclusive symbols, the tie becomes an important sign to distinguish “members of the school” from “outsiders” and also enhances students’ sense of belonging.​

• School Emblem Logo: This is the most common form of logo, divided into two types: “embroidery” and “printing”. Daily ties mostly use small-sized embroidered school emblems (1-2 centimeters in diameter) located at the end of the tie, while ceremonial ties adopt large-sized printing or three-dimensional embroidery to make the school emblem more eye-catching.​
• School Motto/School Name Logo: Some schools integrate the school motto (such as “Virtue and Erudition”) or the school name abbreviation (such as “XYZ Middle School” abbreviated as “XYZ”) into the tie design in the form of text patterns. Some are arranged horizontally, and others are arranged in a circular manner, which not only conveys the school’s spirit but also improves recognition.​
• Exclusive Number Logo: For graduation seasons or special classes, schools will launch “exclusive number ties”—embroidery of students’ student numbers or class numbers on the inside of the tie, making each tie a “unique souvenir”. Many students keep such ties after graduation as a memory of their campus days.​

The “Invisible Value” of School Ties: More Than Just Clothing, but a Cultural Carrier​

Whether it is a daily tie or a ceremonial tie, a solid-color tie or a patterned tie, the significance of school ties has long gone beyond being just a “clothing accessory”. It is not only a concrete embodiment of campus etiquette norms, allowing students to develop rigorous and neat habits through wearing, but also a “mobile carrier” of school culture. Through colors, patterns, and logos, it conveys the school’s history, school motto, and school-running philosophy to every wearer. Moreover, it enhances students’ “sense of belonging and honor”—when students wear a tie with the school’s logo to participate in activities, they will naturally feel a sense of pride that “I am a member of this school”.​

From the gentle sway of the school emblem at the end of the tie when students bow their heads to write in class, to the graduation ceremony where graduates wear formal attire and ceremonial ties to take group photos, and even many years later, when alumni open their old item boxes and see that slightly outdated but still intact campus tie, memories are instantly brought back to their youthful years. Within the “miniature space” of a school tie, it carries unforgettable campus moments and the emotional connection between generations of students and the school.