Hat #1 - Bandana
The bandana is believed to have been created around the 5th century AD, starting in South Asia. It’s name comes from a Sanskrit word badhnati meaning to bind or tie. The word was later anglicized to bandannoe and later evolved into the word we use today, bandana.
The designs of a bandana have a rich history in Kashmir and India and the item was brought to western countries in the 17th and 18th centuries as a status symbol. Later it was brought to North America and has long been associated with workers and rebel culture. A special bandana was even commissioned by Martha Washington to feature a likeness of her husband.
Bandanas in the US can have special meanings based on color. The Virginia Coal miners March featured primarily red bandanas around their necks and is how we got the term “Redneck” still used today. In the 70s bandanas were a type of code used in the gay community to covertly communicate orientation and fetishes. The 80s brought new meanings for red and blue bandanas as these colors were associated with the gangs, Bloods, and Crypts respectively.
There is a lot more to the storied history of bandanas, but I don’t want this to get too long. If you are interested in more information, please just out the sources I used to write this little window into history:
https://sneum.com/pages/the-history-of-the-bandana
https://woodstocklaundry.eu/en-us/blogs/news/the-cultural-significance-of-bandanas
https://www.heddels.com/2017/05/the-history-of-the-bandana/
Now for my attempt at a bandana! While the paisley design is the most known pattern for a bandana, bandanas can feature any design, the only requirement is that it is a square piece of fabric made of cotton or silk.
It was pretty easy and fun! I think I’ll make a few more. I was really happy with how it turned out too.
This is the video I used to make the bandana.
Let me know what you thought of this post! Are you going to make a bandana? What do you think about the history of the bandana?
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