As Jock alludes, in the UK there exists a vast and complex system of organisational neckties whereby something of a man's background can be seen by all at social gatherings.
Being here in the USA, this is foreign to me. The US universities I know about don't appear to have an official university tie, rather in the university shop they might sell several random ties featuring the school logo and/or school mascot and/or school colours in various ways. Most of these ties will be instantly recognised by anyone familiar with the university.
In any case the home of Highland Dress is the UK and with that dress British men tend to wear either plain ties, diagonal striped ties, or ties with an all-over pattern of crests or logos. There are ties that combine the latter two, having diagonal stripes and also crests/logos arranged across the stripes.
About diagonal stripes, it can be seen that UK and European (and Japanese) stripes go one way, while US stripes go the opposite way.
Years ago it was extremely rare to find a Euro-oriented tie for sale in the USA, but this began to change with President Clinton and his taste for Savile Row suits and ties.
In spite of fashion becoming more international, most of the stripe ties seen worn with Highland Dress in its UK home will have the Euro/UK orientation.
Just now I searched "striped tie lot" on EbayUS and EbayUK and found these.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
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