About hanky gang

We do it for the trees

Hi, I'm Eugen—founder of Hanky Gang and chief sneezer.
Why did I start Hanky Gang? Because I love trees. And because I have a constantly runny nose. I got sick of the waste—and the look—of using paper tissues (spoiler: not a great first impression). So I turned to my father's and grandfather's hankies, which were a nice upgrade in terms of practicality and sustainability. But those patterns? Pretty much the textile equivalent of elevator music... So I set out to create a modern hanky—one that keeps the best parts and beautiful heritage of old-school hankies, but adds fun, inspiration, and even goes the extra mile on sustainability.

  • Eugen making friends

You’d think making a handkerchief for the 21st century would be easy...
...but after over a year of exploring fabrics, stitching, and embroidery techniques from around the world (USA, Italy, Germany, Turkey, India, China)—and with the invaluable help of close friends (who you can see modeling on our site)—we finally found the perfect hanky in South Korea, where the ultra-soft Dobby Weave has been a beloved tradition in hanky production. Rooted in heritage and crafted by South Korean artisans for generations, this weave is still beloved today—even by younger folks. Then we found a production partner whose embroidery work truly blew us away. Their craftsmanship brings each hanky to life, and we’re especially proud to share it with you.

  • Love for trees & the planet. And outstanding embroidery quality.

This ain't your granddaddy's hanky:
We opted for unbleached organic cotton—because it's better for your nose and the environment. We added fun emoji embroideries. Our first edition designs are environmentally themed, but stay tuned for whole lotta more embroideries in future editions. At 13.8" x 13.8", we found the right balance between versatility and pocket-friendliness. And because we really love trees and forests—and believe that commerce can be a force for positive change—we plant a tree for every Hanky Gang hanky sold. So by joining the Hanky Gang, you’re not only saving trees from being chopped down—you’re actively planting new ones.

Silent giants who offer us life, beauty and play:

Trees suck carbon out of the sky (thank you), filter pollutants from the air and soil, slow down rainwater so it can actually soak in, and make the world literally cooler with their shade. While they’re at it, they also house birds, bugs, and all kinds of critters — entire ecosystems, just chilling in the branches. Trees are quiet heroes, and every time we reach for a handkerchief instead of a throwaway tissue, we give them a little break. And if you use a Hanky Gang hanky, you even plant an extra tree. Less waste, more forest.

Get a hanky, plant a tree

We work with leading reforestation initiatives:

  • OneTreePlanted

    One Tree Planted is a trusted global reforestation leader, partnering with vetted local organizations to plant trees where they’re needed most—making them a perfect match for Hanky Gang’s mission to turn everyday essentials into tangible climate action.

  • Veritree

    Veritree leverages technology to provide transparent, trackable reforestation projects, ensuring that each tree planted contributes measurably to ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration. When you get your hanky on www.hankygang.com (this site), we automatically and immediately plant a tree via Veritree.

  • Eden Reforestation Projects

    Eden Reforestation Projects employs local communities to plant and protect native forests, effectively reducing extreme poverty while restoring degraded ecosystems, making them an ideal partner for Hanky Gang's mission to promote sustainability and social responsibility.

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