Cynthia Lee - May 08, 2024 

US - Company Gains Cult Following for its Book-Inspired  Bandanas

Image Courtesy: Heading Prints

Afiery morning sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean, casting light through an ornate window in Portland, Maine’s century-old State Theater building. Behind this window is  a small office lined with bookcases, all close to overflowing.

A tea kettle lets out a shrill whistle, quelled by a young woman with round wire-rimmed glasses who begins making tea for two others bustling about the space. This is not a library, no, this is the headquarters of Heading Prints, a fledgling business gaining a cult following for its fashion accessories that draw inspiration from beautiful antique books lost to time.

“In a world where trends come and go, where art can be dreamed up in seconds by Artificial Intelligence, there's something timeless about the allure of a physical book, and the art held within,”. This is Paula Davis, founder of Heading Prints.

"The Brown Fairy Book" By Andrew Lang which inspired Heading's first bandana

“This idea all started at a flea market,” Paula recounts. “I had picked up this beautiful 114-year-old book of fairy tales, and it brought me such joy,”. As Paula went on to recall, she felt sadness knowing that only a few others in the world even knew this book existed. This literature’s beautiful cover had a literal story behind it, which needed to be shared, one way or another.

Paula scoured her small antique book collection back home, amazed at what she found within. Humor, beauty, adventure, and history - surely these works of art deserved to see the light.

“I became familiar with copyright laws - 70 years and the art enters the public domain,” Paula explained. “I spent my weekends in libraries, scouring over old books, scanning thousands of images, astonished at what I was finding.”

With a keen eye for art, Paula meticulously built a library of inspiration, but what was she planning to use these images for?

A model wears the "Bramble" bandana while holding its inspiration "Reynard the Fox"

"My sisters are both bookworms, I asked them what they thought about book-inspired bandanas, and their response was an ecstatic ‘YES’, the perfect medium to proudly show off these delightful designs."

Starting in her living room, graduating to a friend's garage, and settling in downtown Portland, Maine; Paula has spent the last three years growing the business, building a dedicated following across the country in the process. Heading Prints has become a beacon of authenticity in an industry dominated by mass production and fleeting trends.

"We're beyond grateful for the support of our community," acknowledges Emma Larson, creative director. “What we sell is more than a bandana. We sell a story. The beauty is that each story is different, each story is up to the bandana's owner to live.”

Heading's Portland, Maine studio is the heart of the operation

These unique bandanas live out stories large and small.

“Our bandanas can convey love when gifted to a grandchild. Our bandanas can spark a conversation that develops into a lifelong friendship. They bring so many smiles to their owners and those around them. ” Paula reflects, trailing off in thought. 

"A bandana is a simple piece of fashion - the most simple, really - a swath of fabric. And herein lies its beauty... The possibilities are endless,” 

As the world changes quickly around us, this small but determined business remains steadfast in its commitment to creativity, quality, and above all, storytelling. For those seeking to add a touch of literary elegance to their wardrobe, look no further than Heading Prints. Pick out your favorite design today: