Could there be a movement to go back to handkerchiefs to avoid wasting tissue paper? Elegant, colourful and cherished handkerchiefs on our bags and pockets…  Besides, it could have a huge impact on sustainability compared to paper straws that we rarely used or hated to use.

It’s a thing that is historic, romantic and became fashionable suddenly in the 30s. Probably it came from somewhere in Anatolia or Egypt or I can say somewhere from the Silk Road. There is no certain information about handkerchief roots. But we know they are used in many cultures for many reasons for years. Before it became a fashion item, it was used for its invention purpose; cleaning or holding coins inside. As French traveler Tavernier mentioned in his book, Turkish people always bring with them a handkerchief so they can keep their hands and mouths clean while eating or during the day. Also, there are romantic stories telling, women drop their handkerchiefs while walking past the man they like, so the man can bend down and pick it up to give back her handkerchief to start a conversation. I believe it needs much more courage than liking a story or getting into DM’s.

In the 40s, it impulsively became a thing that popped out from men’s breast pockets as a triangle silk arrow must accessory ‘A Mania for Matching Era’ with the same colour or patterns as the wearer’s shirt or tie. It even had its own folding style with no edge showing. Then shirt, tie and handkerchief sets and special collections such as horoscopes, comics, and fun cartoons came out in the stores. In 1954, Harper’s Bazaar featured a 9-Day Wonder Diet fun vintage hankie. There is one handkerchief from my grandma’s collection by Vakko that is a Turkish luxury brand, which tells a story with cartoons under the title of ‘How to keep your husband’.

Probably it is not only my grandmother that collects those that can be both a sustainable cleaning material and romantically fashionable accessory in their era. I would like to ask her about the story behind every handkerchief she kept.  They probably witnessed every sense of living. When I found that collection, they were in really good condition inside a beaded cloth bag. She also used to keep pieces that she had as a gift from special ones, as a remembrance. Those ones have stayed even cleaner but I wish for her to use all of them till they get worn.

Now it’s more about silk handkerchiefs getting bigger sizes and scarfs we have for an accessory with beautiful patterns and colours. Maybe, handkerchiefs may return one day as low-rise jeans. But please not in men’s pockets.