Bandannas

Originating from the Hindi word “bandhnu,” meaning “to tie,” the bandanna traveled from India the USA and became integral to American culture in the late 18th century. In the American West bandannas became iconic among cowboys. More than a practical accessory, they were symbols of identity and individualism. Cowboys used them to shield their faces from dust and sun, but the choice of colors and patterns was a silent expression of personal style and affiliations. Read more

As the 20th century progressed, bandannas transcended their utilitarian roots and found a place in various subcultures. In the 1950s, biker gangs adopted them as emblems of rebellion and unity, while the counterculture movements of the 1960s and 1970s embraced bandannas as symbols of protest and freedom.

We offer two bandanna brands at Those That Know, both created by one of the world’s foremost experts in all things bandanna, Jonathan Lucakek. Having curated the Elephant Brand Bandanna Museum in Kojima, he knows a thing or two about them. The Two Ears Brand creates exacting replicas of turn of the century bandannas from original vintage pieces, some of which never made it to market. While One Ear Brand takes things in a different direction with large-format bandannas with original art prints. Both brands are hand-printed in Japan using manufacturing processes are close to those used in the late 19th century as possible.