Daily Handkerchief by Studio Makkink and Bey

Studio Makkink and Bey
Daily Handkerchief, 2010
Lot: 2500 handkerchiefs across the show

From a pile of forgotten handkerchiefs, Studio Makkink & Bey created a series embroidered with snippets of 30 days world news. Each cloth captures a single day’s headlines, turning disposable information into something personal and lasting. What was once used to wipe away tears or sweat now holds the weight of history — a poetic reminder that even the most ordinary fabric can absorb the stories of its time.


Droog bought 5,135 leftover items from Dutch liquidation auctions: everything from handkerchiefs and dog baskets to mirrors and salt shakers. They invited 14 designers to “revive” the lots into a collection of 19 products, each sold in editions limited by the size of the lot, and launched the result during Salone del Mobile, Milan, 2010.

The concept was accompanied by a short manifesto (about re-directing creative energy and redesigning lifecycles) and a charming “new owner” photo campaign that documented each purchaser right after checkout.

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