We love the lesser common floral bandanas. For most of the 20th century, bandanas were dominated by paisley, but tucked between workwear staples and rodeo gear were entire floral collections produced for women’s western-wear, souvenir shops, and department stores. A quick timeline-
1. 1940s–1960s: Mid-Century Florals
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Look for hand-drawn flower clusters, often with dots or geometric repeats between motifs.
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Early prints were discharge-dyed, meaning the white portions were bleached out of color-dyed fabric — giving them a crisp, slightly irregular look.
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Common tones: dusty red, soft blue, faded rose.
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Often marked simply “All Cotton” or “Fast Color.”
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Seam type: selvedge or single-fold hem.
2. 1970s–1980s: Paris Accessories & Carolina Manufacturing
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The rise of mass-market domestic printing brought vibrant colorways- lavender, mint, coral, and teal.
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Designs expanded beyond paisley, you’ll see floral borders, daisy chains, even abstract vines like your lavender piece.
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Markings often read:
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“100% Cotton - Made in U.S.A.”
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“RN 13960” (Carolina MFG) or “Paris Accessories Inc.”
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Construction: rolled hem with machine stitch.
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Feel: lighter cotton, slightly smoother than earlier weaves.
- We love this lavender example live on the store.
3. 1990s–2000s: Transitional Prints
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Colors go brighter and patterns more uniform.
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Florals become less hand-drawn and more graphic, symmetrical, grid-based, often digitally printed.
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RN tags continue, but “Made in USA” gives way to imports by the late ’90s.
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Fabric feels thinner and slicker.
How to Spot a Vintage Floral Bandana
Look for:
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Slight fade or irregular print edges (screen-printed, not digital).
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Older font styles (thin serif “Made in U.S.A.” vs. modern sans-serif).
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Narrower hems with light waviness.
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Softer hand — vintage cotton ages beautifully.