I like this tie. It looks a decent quality and my boyfriend (whom I bought it for) seemed to have no complaints. He'll be wearing it to a wedding to match my dress, but likely won't wear it again, so I'm glad I didn't have to spend a fortune on a tie. The pattern of lines is part of the weave, and I think it helps to give the tie fabric some depth and richness, despite not being a super fancy tie. Also, it's a tie he's going to wear for 4 hours, with a jacket on over part of it, unless you're reaaaaaaaaally picky about the quality of your ties or the label on the back, this is a great pick. It looks nice, and if it gets stained by overenthusiastic wine drinking or too much wedding cake enjoyment, neither of us will feel guilty bunging it in the trash after the wedding! Definitely recommend!