Hyderabad, February 22, 2024…We know Tie as an accessory with a purpose as keeping a shirt tight at the neck to keep the throat warm during cold weather. It also adds extra colour, attraction to the outfit worn. But here is a Tie which remained the centre of attraction at a city event held at International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) at Gachibowli at Round 1 of the 10th International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO).

The tie worn by Earnest Immanuel, Director, IIHM Hyderabad, was the centre of attraction. The tie had 17 odd insignias/logos. At a closer look it revealed that it had colourful logos and text that are used in most iconic campaigns of the United Nations to promote 17 SDGs.

We are in the hospitality business. We are committed to the 17 SDGs. IIHM has embarked on an initiative called ‘Food Soldiers’ to fight against hunger and works under 17 Sustainable Goals of United Nations to ensure ‘Zero Hunger’ informed Earnest Immanuel

The primary reason why men wear ties is to make their outfits more interesting. And by wearing this tie they are helping to promote societal good, he added. Ties are a symbol of a well-dressed and confident man. Now this tie makes them a proud citizen too.

The tie is a symbol of dignity, decorum, elegance, and respect - both given and received. And we would like people to treat our nature in the same way.

Ties are an essential accessory to wear on certain occasions, such as weddings, job interviews or networking events, where you need to make a good impression. And we want to generate buzz on SDGs when people meet and talk about the same and they will find their way to get associated with SDGs. That how its purpose is met, he added

We have got about 1000 ties made and we distributed the same among our stakeholders across India. India is a signatory to SDGs and it is our collective responsibility that we work towards the same. This novel tie is our small gesture towards popularising 17 SDGs and comply with the same, he added

We know of personalised Secret Message Ties which are available in the market. Such ties are also promoted as the perfect gift for men. This tie is a perfect gift for socially and environmentally conscious human beings, he said. We have surprised many of our stakeholders with these ties, he said. This is a tie with difference, great purpose and bigger cause of common good. It will be a proud possession by a recipient, he added.

Our founder Dr Suborno Bose recently published a book The Art of Sustainable Hospitality is another step towards this direction. The book is the single source-ready reckoner for sustainable practices adopted by various hotels and properties in India. The maiden book on the subject in India talks about Green Hotels and their Green Initiative to minimise environmental impact.

The core elements of the book revolve around reducing waste, saving energy, and cutting down on water usage. It talks about the many steps a hotel can take to move toward sustainability, Immanuel added

Hope the tie serves the purpose of promoting 17 SDGs for global good