"Prickly Pollinators"

$30

Design by:

Zaine Vaun

Austin, TX

The Charity:

Big Bend Conservation Alliance

"Prickly Pollinators"

$30

organic cotton

100% Organic Cotton, GOTS Certified and sustainably sourced in India from Chetna Organic, pre-washed for an extra soft feel
made by hand

Printed, Cut, Sewn, and Packaged by hand at a Fair Trade Certified facility in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Please note that there may be slight sizing and color variations from product to product
21" x 21"

Standard 21 x 21 inch bandana. Machine wash cold with like colors, line or tumble dry, warm iron, do not bleach

Zaine's beautifully detailed "Prickly Pollinators" design is her personal pushback against the commonly mis-held idea of the desert as a barren landscape. As her design shows, the desert is an environment bursting with vibrant, interconnected life and color. This colorful, kaleidoscopic design is inspired by the growth, prosperity, and abundance that the desert provides as an ecosystem that feeds and sustains countless species in West Texas.

As with much of her other work, Zaine's design also aims to explore the softer, more feminine side of the cactus and the desert as whole. Through the pollinating ecosystem it supports, Zaine explores the desert's role as life-giver and nurturer. She centers the animals, insects, and plants that work together seamlessly to give the desert it's unique, alluring appeal. Coupled with influences from traditional Mexican blockprinting and the simple line work of artist Gustave Baumann, Zaine's design is a wonderful, wearable reminder that the desert is a place bursting with life, energy, and color.

Austin, TX

Zaine Vaun

www.zainevaun.com

Austin based graphic artist, illustrator, and painter Zaine Vaun was a natural choice for our new Cactus-centric collection. Zaine's work is heavily influenced by her experiences growing up in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains. Her work is often populated by whimsically welcoming creatures and plantlife of the desert, which she beautifully renders in vibrant colors set against minimalist line work. In Zaine's words, she likes to "embrace playful imperfections" in the natural world. In addition to her amazing design for BANDITS, Zaine's work has been featured on products for YETI, Parks Project, the Bird Collective, and many more. We've been huge fans of Zaine's work for years, and we're honored to finally introduce one of her original designs as part of our catalog!

Big Bend Conservation Alliance

Big Bend Conservation Alliance ("BBCA") is a Native-led organization that nurtures and co-creates inclusive, equitable, and just approaches to conservation with communities throughout the Western region of Texas along the Mexico border (known as the "Trans-Pecos"). BBCA works closely with Indigenous, Immigrant, and Agricultural stakeholders in the spirit of healing, connection, and shared appreciation for the natural world.

BBCA was formed in 2015 during the midst of the fight to stop the Trans Pecos Pipeline—the first oil and gas infrastructure in the region. The pipeline surfaced many advocates for and against its development and divided communities throughout Big Bend. BBCA recognizes that they took a side in this fight, helping provide a voice for those who opposed it. Today, their work is still centered on deep community engagement, but with a renewed focus on projects that bring communities together. In their words, BBCA serves "our skies, land, water, and cultures by nurturing reciprocal relationships within our shared environment."

Zaine chose BBCA not only for their important conservation work, but also for an interesting connection with her design and her hometown of Austin. The Chisos Agave, also known as the "Big Bend Giant" is a strain of found in the Trans-Pecos region and primarily pollenated by Mexican Long-nosed Bats - the same that famously flock to the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. Each night from around mid-March to early November, the Austin Bats emerge from under the bridge to blanket the sky as they head out to forage for food. This spectacle draws huge viewing crowds and is considered one of the more unusual tourist attractions in Austin.

www.bigbendconservationalliance.org/