Scene 1: age 5. Grandfather is taking a purple and brown patterned handkerchief out of his pocket and blows his nose. Cut.
Scene 2: a year ago. A friend is taking a white and blue hearts patterned handkerchief and blows her nose. Imagine the shock. Handkerchief? Who are you and what did you do with my updated cool friend?! Cut.
Scene 3: today. Turns out I am the outdated one. Outdated and germophobic. But the handkerchiefs are making a comeback, big time. Maybe it’s the green aspect (reusable, no paper waste) or just a cool retro kind of approach, but it’s a fact. Now that you are going to get used to it, you will also discover the other usage options – from dabbing makeup, wiping hands, cleaning up a spill or just put it in your jacket’s pocket to add a color and prove you have a nose for fashion.
Muji has a nice collection of city maps handkerchiefs: New York, Tokyo and Paris are the ones we liked most.
The Smooches handkerchief is a sweet and great idea and you can even send a request for a specific lipstick color! Get that you aunts who aggressively wiped my cheeks!
The I Like You handkerchief is a great way to start a conversation. Just pretend you forgot it by accident on the table. If the answer is marked down with a booger, run for your life.
The Honeypress’ Etsy store is full of cool designs and patterns handkerchiefs, made of silk screen on cotton. This bicycle hankie is a modern touch to the retro pattern.
If you’re a hypochondriac or just have a good sense of humor, this one is for you – a H1N1 swine flu embroidery in pink or black.
Great list of hankies and yes, hankies are definitely coming back. I launched a business in 2009 based on organic cotton handkerchiefs. See http://www.limegreenmonkey.com
Adult hankies are called “snotcouture” and tissue sized hankies are called Snottykins.
Happy Earth Day month!