It is probably the most famous &mdash; and popular &mdash; square of cloth in the world: the bandana. Symbol of hippies, workers, motorcyclists, rockers and bourgeois; The bandana is unisex and democratic. Who doesn't have one?

The origin of the <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/how-to-adopt-the-bandana-pattern-this-summer-trendy-print-philippe-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bandana</a> dates back to 18th century India, already famous for its textiles and dyeing. Their motifs were printed on cotton using the batik technique, with wooden stamps dipped in ink, usually red, with the paisley motif, a kind of bouquet of flowers or bush, a symbol of love and romanticism in the Persian tradition.
European settlers fell in love with this 50 by 55 centimeter scarf, whose name comes from the Sanskrit b adhnati, which means "to tie." The first to bring it to the West were the Portuguese, when <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/the-charms-of-portugal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Portugal</a> reigned over Goa and Bombay. It was soon adopted by the Sevillian countrymen of the 18th and 19th centuries, who wore it on their heads to protect themselves from the sun, and, through the Spanish colonists, this &ldquo;fashion&rdquo; reached South America and was adopted by the Argentine gauchos. and Brazilians (under the name of len&ccedil;o) and by Mexican cowboys and revolutionaries. In North America it made its appearance with the gold rush that began in 1848, which attracted tens of thousands of Europeans, especially Irish and Germans, who carried it in their luggage. Bandanas were already produced in large quantities in factories in Manchester (Great Britain) and Glasgow (Scotland).

Classic bandana.

The cowboys of the American West used it to protect their faces from dust on their horses when they accompanied the herds or galloped away and John Wayne and Hollywood turned it into an emblem. From the beginning of the 20th century, North American blacksmiths, railroad workers and miners used it in a triangle over their faces to cover their mouths, dry sweat and prevent dirt. So much so that it became a social distinctive, which earned them their nickname - the rednecks - with which the North American working class is still distinguished today, although it was also used by gangsters to disguise their features during robberies. During World War II, it was part of the costume of Rosie the Riveter, a symbol of civilian employees of the American army.

In the <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/dame-zandra-rhodes-on-freddie-mercury-and-the-1970s-zeitgeist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1970s</a>, the bandana, worn in the back pocket, was a sign of belonging in San Francisco 's gay community. Each position and colour defined the person's sexual practices and preferences, a true code called the &ldquo;bandana code.&rdquo; Simultaneously, the bandana was &mdash; and continues to be &mdash; one of the favorite accessories of very macho bikers.
In the <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/music/young-photos-madonna-birthday-80s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80s</a>, the cotton square was present everywhere, in different versions and colors, plain or printed. Madonna made it pop in &ldquo;Desperately Seeking Susan&rdquo; and Olivia Newton John gave it a sporty touch in her &ldquo;Physical&rdquo; clip.

Fashions passed but not the bandana. Actor and musician Steven van Zandt (&ldquo;The Sopranos&rdquo;, the E Street Band) wears it constantly and it is rare to see Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones without one. Thanks to Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, rappers from the American West Coast, this accessory is part of <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/art/history-hip-hop-genre-music-singers-style-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hip-hop</a> history. Flexible as always, the bandana also has fans among athletes such as the cyclist Marco Pantani or the tennis player Arnaud Cl&eacute;ment.

Nowadays it can be worn around the neck, to hold the hair, tied on the head like a pirate (how can we not think of Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean?), around the neck, carelessly sticking out of the back pocket or tied to the handle of a portfolio. Completely unisex, it can be worn by both men and women and it is not even unusual to see them around the necks of chic dogs. The bandana attracts all audiences. In fact, <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/hermes-woman-show-autumn-winter-2023-paris-collection-photo-look-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herm&egrave;s</a> proposes, in addition to its famous 90 x 90 carr&eacute;, 55 x 50 silk bandanas.

The bandana, versatility in an accessory

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