Handkerchiefs & Bandannas

At a glance, handkerchiefs and bandannas may seem to be outdated, antiquated accessories reserved for grandfathers, pirates, and the noble lords and ladies of chivalrous times of old. This is the 21st Century after all. No self-respecting Smartphone wants to share pocket-lodgings with an incompetent, soiled old rag!

Indeed, technology has bettered out lives in countless ways, making daily tasks quicker and easier, BUT we may be paying a hidden price for these conveniences. Unknowingly, we might be obscuring resourceful and sustainable ways of living with our so-called “advances” in technology.

Handkerchiefs and bandannas are one such example of forlorn and derelict sustainability. These bodacious babushkas used to be as common an accessory as cell phones are to people today. Exceptionally versatile, handkerchiefs and bandannas can be used for a variety of purposes, both practical and aesthetic. They make excellent tissues, napkins, rags, sweatbands, hats, masks, impromptu bandages, bags, and flags. They can be utilized as cough catchers, glasses cleaners, tear dabbers, sweat wipers, and MORE.

Made of 100% cotton, these handy hankies can be placed in the wash at the end of the day and then later reused, thus cutting down on the carbon footprint created by our noses and the factories that produce the disposable alternatives. Image the yearly waste (tissues, napkins, paper towels, etc.) that can be prevented from going into landfills, not to mention the money that can be saved, by simply buying a handful of these paisley clad cloths whose sole purpose is to be used again and again, week in and week out.

Now, living in the extremely germ sensitive society that we do, it’s understandable that some mistakenly consider handkerchiefs to be unsanitary. This unfortunate assumption arises from simple ignorance. For one, handkerchiefs aren’t continuously collecting grime and filth the whole week through. No, proper etiquette requires that hankies be replaced each morning with a fresh and pristine specimen. Furthermore, handkerchiefs could help to cut down on airborne germs, especially during the flu season. Carrying a tissue box around is impractical, but a handkerchief is lightweight, portable, and supremely accessible, a simple alternative to dirtying the hands or sleeves with a radical cough or sneeze.

Click HERE for some handkerchief etiquette and folding tips.

For those wishing to purchase some of these gallant garments, HERE is an assortment of colored bandannas and HERE are some plain, white handkerchiefs, both made in the United States with 100% cotton.