Bandanas originated in India as bright coloured handkerchiefs of silk and cotton with spots in white on coloured grounds, chiefly red and blue Bandhani.
The bandana, as it is commonly known, dates back to the late 17th century in the Middle East and South Asia. In fact, the word "bandana" is also thought to derive from Hindi, the translation of which is "tied cloth".
The bandana really came into its own during World War II, as women on the home front entered American factories and used them to tie their long hair back.
Bandana Origins (Late 17th Century – Late 18th Century)
The bandana, as it is commonly known today (printed colors and patterns on square cotton fabric), traces its origins back to the late 17th century in the Middle East and Southern Asia.
The word bandana is thought to come from the Hindi word bāṅdhnū, meaning "to tie," and the garment itself has a history that can be traced back to South Asia and the Middle East in the late 17th century. Fast forward to today and this square piece of colored cloth has found itself tied to various subcultures.
Wearing a bandana, however, is of low concern when it comes to cultural appropriation debates. It has spanned across many cultures and races, making it widely acceptable for all people groups. Bandanas are associated with many groups, such as rock groups, gangs,cowboys and outlaws, and even LGBT communities.
Bandanas are square-sized pieces of cloth used for many purposes. It is a simple accessory that symbolizes many things such as love, friendships, enemies, music, and even gangs.
In the west they were popularized by Chicano culture and the African American community, but did you know they actually originated from India? In fact, the word bandana comes from the Hindi word “bandna”, which means to tie. Nowadays it's used by people from all cultures, so if you wanna wear a bandana go for it!
The black bandana depending on how it is worn can evoke hopelessness as well as elegance. Although black has many negative associations, it is a color that signifies power and control. It is considered hostile and intimidating, yet refined, elegant and confident.
So join together this Fashion Month to make a simple and singular visual statement: wear a white bandana as a sign to the world that you believe in the common bonds of humankind — regardless of race, sexuality, gender or religion.” The Urban Dictionary also associates white bandanas as a symbol of Unity.
Many women who cover talk about it as a way demonstrating their submission to God and a constant reminder to hold fast to Islamic beliefs such as being honest and generous to those in need.
A hachimaki (鉢巻) is a Japanese headband, usually made of red or white cloth, typically featuring a design of kanji at the front. It is worn as a symbol of effort or courage by the wearer, especially by those in the military, or to simply keep sweat off one's face.
Wearing a bandana around the wrist is considered a sign of gang culture in some circles, but we're reclaiming it as a signal of great style. Don't tie it too perfectly lest others think you're cramming for a first-aid course, but just let it be a casual hit of color and pattern.
In Los Angeles, for example, the Bloods and Crips gangs wore red and blue bandanas respectively as a symbol to show their appetite to one or the other gang. This type of use, like other aesthetic elements of the Los Angeles gangs, was borrowed from the Chicano style of the 60s and 70s.
Fortunately, the name “Paisley” sticks to the pattern as it spreads across borders. It derived the name from a Western Scotland town, Paisley, where the pattern was first replicated. Besides bandanas, the Paisley design remained popular in other textiles and pieces of clothing such as waistcoats and men's ties.
1990s accessory: Bandanas were a popular item for women and men in the' 90s and bigger bandanas were also used as tops by women.
Bloods wear red, Crips wear blue. There are thousands of gangs in the U.S. and most identify with one or more colors of every description.
The green bandana has become a symbol of the movement for safe, legal, and free abortion.
The Crips, represented by their blue bandana, and the Bloods, represented by their red bandana, are two gangs that have marked the history of the United States.
Bandanas have long been a staple of the hippie wardrobe.
However, Jamaicans have reclaimed the fabric from its slave connotations and it's now a symbol of pride and distinction. It's particularly popular among market vendors, singers and storytellers. Bandana cloth is in high evidence during ceremonial, cultural and independence holidays in Jamaica.
Simply put, a neckerchief is a large bandana, a square scarf that can be styled in many ways. These neck scarves are made for both men and women.
We see so many people do this from sailors to sportsmen to fashion icons. So while wearing a bandana on the head is done primarily for protection from the sun and wind, this piece of cloth has also become one of the most favorite fashion accessories used to match clothing.
One sports a blue bandana in the left back pocket, which, according to the overlaid text, “indicates that the wearer will assume the active or traditional male role during sexual contact”. The other has a red bandana in the right back pocket, indicating that “the wearer takes the passive role in anal/hand insertion”.