In our world of convenience and disposability, Eugen Ahl-Klopsch saw an opportunity to turn a personal annoyance into a quiet act of rebellion—and sustainability.

During a routine video call in the thick of the Covid era, Eugen caught a glimpse of himself dabbing his nose with a crumpled tissue and had a moment of clarity: what if a timeless accessory like the handkerchief could be reimagined for the modern, eco-conscious generation?

What started with borrowing his father’s handkerchiefs soon evolved into Hanky Gang—a brand that blends playful design, environmental impact, and everyday functionality.

Beyond reducing paper waste, every hanky sold plants a tree, signaling a movement that’s as stylish as it is sustainable.

In this interview, Eugen shares the origin story behind Hanky Gang, how he’s bootstrapped the brand from scratch, the tools that power his operations, and why he believes the humble handkerchief might just be the next frontier in conscious consumerism.

What was the lightbulb moment - origin story of Hanky Gang?

My lightbulb moment happened during a video call in the middle of Covid. I've always had a chronically runny nose and when I caught myself on camera using a crumpled paper tissue, I thought to myself: Oh my, this isn't a great look.

Since I couldn't change the runny nose, I decided to turn this annoyance into a win: a quiet statement. I started out using my father's handkerchiefs but soon wanted to improve them: better fabrics, playful designs, smaller sizes to reduce the bulkiness.

And: what if these hankies didn't just save trees from being chopped down for paper tissue production, but actually plant new ones?

And what if we can inspire a whole new generation to rediscover this beautiful and storied accessory for themselves?

That would be truly meaningful change.

What is the mission and vision of Hanky Gang?

Hanky Gang’s mission is to re-establish the handkerchief as a stylish, sustainable, and versatile everyday essential.

We envision a world where handkerchiefs are back in everyone’s pocket — expressing personality, replacing wasteful habits, serving many uses, and turning a daily habit into a force for good and a greener planet.

How does Hanky Gang impact lives and/or the environment in a positive way?

133 times to the moon and back–that’s how far you’d travel if you laid out every one of the 255 billion paper tissues used in the USA in just a single year alone.

Handkerchiefs are already a much more sustainable alternative to paper tissues — but at Hanky Gang, we’re proud to go a few extra miles:

We use only unbleached, organic cotton (GOTS-certified), which is better for your nose and the planet.

For every hanky sold, we plant a tree through two of the world’s leading reforestation initiatives: Veritree and One Tree Planted.

Our hankies are produced in South Korea with a carefully selected ECOCERT-certified partner that ensures fair working conditions.

And our packaging is made from FSC-certified paper.

How have you funded the company thus far?

I’m bootstrapping the venture, financing the entire project on my own. With invaluable help from family and friends, I’ve been wearing all kinds of hats — from conceiving the brand and designing the product and packaging, to shooting the product and campaign photography, building the shop, running campaigns, and reaching out to retailers.

What tools do you use to run Hanky Gang?

I use a selection of garden-variety tools, but I’d like to give a shoutout to Milanote — it’s wonderful for visual thinkers — and to Shopify, which is by far the best shop system I’ve worked with in the last 15 years.

Other than that, I guess I’m pretty old-school and prefer pen and paper whenever possible. Maybe that’s also where the knack for hankies comes from.