All-New Line of Popular "Cocktail Expressions" Ties Launches to Raise Awareness about Drunk Driving

-- Creator of the Jerry Garcia tie collection partners with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and PVH on neckwear to support MADD's lifesaving mission --

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the holidays just around the corner, Stonehenge Strategic Group is launching an all-new collection of their popular Cocktail Expressions neckwear as the only safe way to "tie one on" before driving. The PVH-brand ties were created by Irwin Sternberg, creator of the popular Jerry Garcia, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis and other highly-successful cause-related collections of neckwear. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Cocktail Expressions ties, available exclusively at Macy's, will be donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

The designs featured on the Cocktail Expressions ties are based on the molecular structure of various alcoholic beverages as seen under a high-powered microscope — including beer, wine, tequila, champagne, scotch, vodka, gin and tonic, kamikaze, bloody mary and screwdriver. Assistant Scholar and Scientist Michael Davidson, at the High Magnet Field Laboratory at Florida State University, used the images to create the scientific micrographs printed on the neckwear. Each Cocktail Expressions tie bears a garment tag specifying which alcoholic beverage the tie pattern represents, along with a message from MADD about the dangers of drinking and driving.

The award-winning Cocktail Expressions collection of neckwear was first launched at the Macy's flagship store in New York on August 9, 1994. At that time, governors across the country proclaimed the day "Tie One on for MADD Day" in support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Now, 18 years later, an all-new collection of ties is being launched to again raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving — a 100 percent preventable crime, which continues to claim more than 10,000 lives each year. The new Cocktail Expressions ties will be available in 30 Macy's stores across the country starting this week, with a special appearance by Irwin Sternberg and MADD National President Jan Withers at Macy's Herald Square this Saturday, August 25, 2012.

"As a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, I am especially excited to see the re-introduction of this outwardly visible reminder to not drink and drive," said Withers. "I'm hopeful that the awareness spread through these ties will ultimately save lives and prevent injuries."

The Cocktail Expressions ties also feature the new Spectra Fabrics process, which was created exclusively for Stonehenge Strategic Group by Harry Bachrach. This recently patented process, not yet seen in the neckwear industry, increases the number of colors that can be used — from four or five, to up to eight — resulting in a more vivid expression of color.

Originally based in New York, Stonehenge was one of the first major neckwear manufacturers to transpose artwork onto neckwear, including the works of the late Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and vocalist for The Grateful Dead. More than conversation pieces, the ties quickly became some of the most commercially successful lines of neckwear in the world.

Cocktail Collection creator Irwin Sternberg has used neckwear collections to raise funds and awareness for a variety of causes, including The Christopher Reeve Foundation, Gilda's Club, The Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research, The Children's Miracle Network, the Johns Hopkins Children's Miracle Collection, and the Tibet Fund. In total, more than three million dollars have been raised from sale of these cause-related tie collections.

"Every one of these neckwear programs has been extremely dear to me. I have so many fond memories and truly amazing stories of the courage and passion of these brave men, women and children I've met along the way," said Sternberg. "I look forward to this renewed partnership with MADD, raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving."

"The awareness campaign that Irwin Sternberg helped build around the Cocktail Expressions ties back in the 1990s was one of MADD's most successful awareness campaigns," said Debbie Weir, CEO of MADD. "We are proud to work with Irwin, along with PVH and Macy's, as they launch this all-new collection of ties, with the goal of one day being able to say there are no more new victims of drunk driving."

SOURCE Stonehenge Strategic Group