Mandalay Khaki - Mini Square Silk Scarf

A design at Les Belles Vagabondes begins in pencil, is refined in ink or marker, then scanned and separated out colour by colour before it ever reaches fabric. Mandalay in khaki is one of the mini scarves, 50 x 50cm of pure silk.

It can be worn at the neck, wound round a wrist, used as a headband or through a bun, or tied to the handle of a bag.

How the Printing Works

These scarves are screen printed by hand in India. The workshop stretches a micro-perforated stencil over a flat frame and pushes each colour through separately, one frame per colour, layering them until the design is complete. Shades are blended on site from powdered dyes and natural gums, out of a palette running to more than 500 colours.

Printing runs along tables of 24 to 36 metres. Afterwards each scarf is cut by hand and finished with a French-style hand-rolled hem, the edge turned and stitched rather than machined.

How This Scarf Is Made

The printing workshop is a member of SEDEX, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, and is audited under the SMETA framework, which covers labour rights, health and safety, environmental practice and business ethics. The dyes are AZO-free and contain no heavy metals or hazardous chemicals. Les Belles Vagabondes work in silk, wool and organic cotton and use no synthetics.

How to Care for Your Silk

Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent, or dry clean. Silk weakens when wet, so press the water out in a towel rather than twisting it. Dry it flat, away from radiators and direct sunlight, which fade dye over time.

Material: 100% silk
Size: 50 x 50cm
Finish: hand-rolled hem
Design: hand-drawn in France
Print: hand screen-printed in India, AZO-free dyes
Packaging: box inspired by vintage matchboxes