Bags & Accessories
The Bandana Bag
The bandana motif in two bags: the Balagan Bandana Bag, the small jewel-chain bag that transforms an outfit, and the Balagan II, the oversized bandana tote bag that comes along for the beach and the weekend, personalised and embroidered in our Paris workshop.
The Balagan Bandana Bag, the small bandana bag
The little bag you grab on your way out that makes an outfit unforgettable: its iconic jewel chain, all the energy of the city and of style, and your message embroidered at the heart of the rosette, yours alone to wear.
The Balagan II, the oversized bandana tote bag
The bandana tote you carry your whole life in, for the beach, the weekend or the spur-of-the-moment getaway. Double-sided to switch style in a single gesture, or trimmed with dancing fringe, the trend of the season: every woman finds her own, and your initials, embroidered inside, sign it for added exclusivity.
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The Bandana Bag: One Iconic Print, Two Ways to Carry It
They say the bandana was born around the necks of cowboys. It’s true, and the one everyone pictures is the American square in red, or navy blue, scattered with white paisley, that farmers, railroad workers and cowboys tied on against the dust, before rock, bikers and street culture turned it into a symbol of freedom. Its motif is far older, though: paisley descends from the Persian teardrop known as the boteh, made famous in the 19th century by the weavers of the Scottish town of Paisley, and the word bandana comes from the Hindi bāndhnū, the art of tying and dyeing cloth.
Our bags are not cut from old American squares: we have redrawn the bandana motif, printed on cotton for the Balagan and on Lycra for the Balagan II, and taken it far beyond the original red. The result is two distinct bandana bags, a small one and a very large one.
The Balagan Bandana Bag is the small bandana handbag, 30 × 30 × 9 cm, the one that gives character to the simplest outfit, worn on the shoulder or in the hand by its aluminium jewel chain interlaced with faux leather. Lined with Oeko-Tex certified bamboo terry that gives it its shape, it turns the paisley into a canvas: your message, up to twenty characters, follows the curve of the central rosette, in the thread colour of your choice. It comes in six colours, from the brown bandana bag and the black bandana bag that go with everything to the pink bandana bag that calls for sunshine, by way of white, burgundy and navy tie & dye.
The Balagan II bandana is the very large one, the oversized bandana tote bag you carry your whole life in for a weekend or a getaway on a whim. Cut from luminous Lycra and worn on the shoulder, it is made to measure, reversible and double-sided with a bamboo terry face to switch style in a single gesture, or trimmed with 15 cm fringe that swings with every step, and your initials, up to three letters, are embroidered inside like a secret signature.
Either way, every bandana bag is made to order and embroidered in our Paris workshop, the embroidery is complimentary, and the piece you receive belongs to you alone.
To go further, The Journal tells you how to wear a bandana, about our craft of embroidered initials, how to wear fringe, from the sarong to the bag, and the bag that follows you on weekends, the Balagan II bandana’s playground.
Frequently asked questions
How do you wear a bandana bag?
Everywhere and all year round: the bandana now shows up on every street and in every street-style shot, to the point of becoming a classic as obvious as a leather bag. A Parisian with effortless chic, a New Yorker always on the move or a Londoner who dares every mix, whether you are off to Los Angeles or Miami, from Dubai to Ibiza, there is a bandana bag for every style and every moment: the small Balagan Bandana Bag, carried by its jewel chain from the city to dinner, or the very large Balagan II bandana, for the beach and the weekend.
Which bandana bag should I choose?
The one that looks like your life. You have children, an overflowing diary, a laptop that never leaves your side, and you like to set off with everything that matters: go for the oversized Balagan II bandana tote. You are independent, efficient, minimalist, classic with just the right touch of daring: the small Balagan Bandana Bag is made for you, easy, practical, far roomier than its size suggests, and it will never leave your side.
Are bandana bags still in style?
Yes, and it has every reason to stay that way: paisley has moved through fashion for two centuries without ever going out of style. This season it meets the other obsession of the moment, fringe, which the Balagan II bandana brings together in one bag, and it shows no sign of stopping: choosing the bandana is a true style investment.
What does a bandana symbolise?
Freedom, above all. The red or navy American square was first a working cloth, tied on by farmers, railroad workers and cowboys against the dust, before bikers, rock musicians and street culture made it a sign of independence and a touch of rebellion. Carrying a bandana bag means bringing that spirit into the most polished wardrobe, with the paisley motif that has travelled from Persia to Scotland to the whole world.
How much does a personalised bandana bag cost?
€120 for the Balagan Bandana Bag, €150 for the Balagan II bandana and €180 in its gold sequin version, and the embroidery is our gift. Shipping is free in mainland France on orders over €100, and we ship worldwide.
Can I have a name embroidered on a bandana bag?
Yes, on the Balagan Bandana Bag: a first name, a favourite word or a date, up to twenty characters, embroidered in an arc around the rosette, and you can also choose it without embroidery. The Balagan II bandana is signed with your initials, up to three letters, embroidered inside the bag. Either way, the embroidery is complimentary.
How long does it take to receive my bandana bag?
As every bag is made and personalised for you, allow 8 working days for the Balagan Bandana Bag and 15 working days for the Balagan II bandana before shipping. If you are leaving soon, have it delivered straight to your holiday address.
How do you wash a bandana bag?
By hand, in cold water and gently, never in the machine, then dry it flat in the open air so it keeps its shape.