Journal
Bandana, the Third Essential
Bandana
T-Shirt, Jeans, Bandana — the three essentials that define 45R.
T-shirt, jeans, bandana.
These three form a trinity at 45R.
We value the bandana as much as we do our T-shirts and jeans. It is not an accessory, but something rooted in daily life.
A bandana can be worn on the head, around the neck, used as a handkerchief, a belt, or to wrap a lunch box. There are no fixed rules. It is meant to be used freely, like a tool within everyday living.
Washed again and again, softened until it becomes almost limp, it grows easier to use. In that way, it shares something with the Japanese tenugui — a cloth made to serve life, not decoration.
Not a Reproduction
We love the worn feel of old bandanas — but we aim to create something that will one day become vintage itself.
We admire the relaxed texture of old bandanas. However, what we seek is not a reproduction of vintage pieces, but bandanas that will eventually become true vintage.
Our standard selvedge bandana measures approximately 55 cm square. There is a reason for this.
Traditional bandana fabric was woven at 110 cm in width. When cut down the center, it becomes two pieces of roughly 55 cm each. The selvedge — the finished edge of the original cloth — appears on only one side. The remaining three sides are sewn to prevent fraying.
It is a rational construction, free from waste. Our bandanas are still woven on old looms at a 110 cm width.
Three sides are finished with a narrow rolled hem. The fabric edge is folded as finely as possible and sewn straight with concentration and precision. Through continuous refinement, the hem has been reduced to approximately 1.5 mm — the result of long experience and accumulated technique.
Pattern and Print
Every motif begins by hand, and color is printed through — front and back alike.
All patterns are hand-drawn. Dots, paisleys, and intricate motifs alike begin with a brush in the hands of our in-house artist.
From the original drawing, each design is printed using hand silk-screen techniques. Dye is carefully applied, then rubbed through from the reverse side so that the pattern penetrates the fabric. The back is treated with the same respect as the front — a reflection of our belief that what is unseen matters equally.
Indigo is inseparable from our bandana making. With more than 33 indigo recipes developed over time, we create bandanas unique to 45R.
Depending on the theme, yarns are dyed in indigo and woven before discharge printing is applied to remove color in pattern. Rather than adding pigment, discharge printing extracts it. By controlling the strength of the discharge, we reveal the vivid depth inherent in indigo.
Materials and Use
Every motif begins by hand, and color is printed through — front and back alike.
Our bandanas are made in various materials: gauze, jersey, silk, linen, Indian khadi, flannel.
Each offers a distinct texture and presence. The bandana is not confined to a single form or season. Its material expands its possibilities, while its role remains the same — something to be used.
Continuing the Craft
A bandana shaped by long practice and the pursuit of what does not yet exist.
The breadth and depth of our bandana making have grown because we have treated it as one part of our trinity, and because we continue to challenge ourselves to create what does not yet exist.
None of this was achieved overnight. It is the result of accumulated knowledge and steady refinement.
And we continue to explore the possibilities of the bandana — not as an accessory, but as an essential.
