Bandanas

The word and style of the bandana trace back to the Indian subcontinent. The term comes from the Sanskrit word bandhana or Hindi bandhnu/bandhani, meaning "to tie" or "to bind", referencing the traditional tie-dye method used to create patterned silk and cotton kerchiefs. Dutch and English East India companies exported these colorful Indian kerchiefs to Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the US, cowboys pulled the triangular cloth over their nose and mouth to filter out choking dust kicked up during cattle drives. Worn around the neck, it also protected skin from brutal sunburns and freezing winter winds.

Today, knotting a bandana around the neck or hair adds interest and sophistication to an outfit. Wrapped around a wrist or as a belt - transforms the use even more!

We are carrying the following bandanas:

• blue acanthus - the acanthus leaf is used in medieval art, design, and architecture. The beautiful leaf and flower forms have been an inspiration for centuries, and in this design they've used the leaf to block print the bandana in indigo. It dresses up a T-shirt or complements denim with its magical blue. Measures approximately 26"x 26" (66 x 66 cm).
• cardamom tea - a spicy chai delights the senses in a delicious gulp. This cotton bandana is inspired by the pods and seeds that spice up our lives! An elegant square piece that pairs well with many colors and looks. Measures approximately 24.8" x 24.8" (63 x 63 cm).
• inky doodles in:
• black & chai - a chai colored bandana, with ink and pen doodled lines. Measures approximately 26 x 26 in (66 x 66 cm).
• chutney green - a good chutney involves a delicious blend of cilantro, mint, green chillies, and garlic, spicing up any dish. In this case, the chutney green bandana will spice up any outfit! Measures approximately 25"x 25" (65 x 65 cm).
• mojito - mint adds a delicious taste to the palate; this bandana pays tribute to the wonders of this plant. The taste and color it produces are exciting and popular. Think chewing gum to Tic Tacs, and a mojito! A palette of mint green has so many shades, and this one is happy and fashionable. Measures approximately 25"x 25" (65 x 65 cm).
• raspberry ice - a pink print on a fun, casual bandana does so much for any outfit! Especially now, when the Barbie movie has been around for years and fashion is celebrating the color PINK!  Measures approximately 24.8" x 24.8" (63 x 63 cm).
• spiced sangria - the acanthus plant has been an inspiration to artists and designers for centuries. This versatile bandana creates fashion and function with its beautiful hand-block printed design. Measures approximately 26"x 26" (66 x 66 cm).

Hand-block printed on fine cotton.

Machine wash cold on delicate and line dry.

Made in India.

Devika Santos founded Peaceware after earning a Master of Science Degree in Textile Print Design from The Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.  Her goal is to offer useful, carefully made textiles that delight. She has roots in India, but her US base for Peaceware is Davidson, North Carolina. Each scarf, napkin, or bandana is designed in-house and artisan-made using traditional techniques of printing, weaving, and dyeing in India. Production is done by artisan communities who use wood blocks to print and hand looms to weave. Everything is made in small batches. Devika regularly travels to Mumbai, which has been a booming textile center for centuries, and her ancestral home in Kutch, Gujarat, to work with the artisans.  With her ancestral connection to cloth making and a love of materials, craft, color, pattern, and sustainability inspire her work.