Red Road Bandanas still makes bandanas the ancient and painstaking way: by hand-carving wood blocks, preparing plants and minerals by hand to create rich and earthy colors, cooking the colors and cloth together over fire, dipping them into deep heated vats of fermenting indigo when blues are called for, and applying clay by hand for resist printing. It’s a labor of love, and the folks at Red Road work some alchemical mojo in the pursuit of making something special.

A bit larger than the standard fare, the 100% organic cotton bandana is 29″ x 29″. Between the bigger size and laborious techniques that produce the kind of imperfections that are appreciated, this conversation starter is sure to get noticed.

Available for $48 at Stag Provisions in indigo and red.