By Sarah Calvin
On a sunny summer day, local artist Kate DeFrancesco-Sias inadvertently invented the tuckerchief, a fashionable, washable, and wearable handkerchief bracelet.
“I ran out of tissues, and I had an old shirt laying around that was really soft. I cut a sleeve off of it and just started wearing it around,” DeFrancesco-Sias reminisced.
Two weeks later, on a hike with fellow outdoors lover Michelle Blackburn, DeFrancesco-Sias mentioned her new invention. Blackburn was hooked, thinking not only of her own active pursuits, but of her children, and how convenient it would be for all of them.
“It was a winter hike, we were hiking in the snow, up Deer Leap, trading stories about how gross their sleeves were from wiping their noses,” said Blackburn. “There’s just never enough tissues.”
“We love hiking, skiing, biking, and skinning, and we always need something,” added De-Francesco-Sias. “The glove is scratchy — nobody wants a scratched face.”
The two women agreed this new invention was too good to keep to themselves, and spent a year developing prototypes, sewing the tuckerchiefs themselves. Though the majority of the cuffs are crafted from a poly-spandex blend in the interest of comfort, the company offers a cotton cuff for those who prefer it. The pair is interested in using more sustainable fabrics, like wool and bamboo, as their company grows.
As avid outdoor enthusiasts, sustainability and supporting the local community is a big part of the company’s mission. Blackburn and DeFrancesco-Sias hope that their tuckerchiefs will replace disposable tissues for their users, saving acres of the virgin forests tissue companies consume to make the product.
“Tuckerchiefs are sustainable, fashionable, and an accent to your wardrobe,” said DeFrancesco-Sias.
“We have some pretty cool patterns, and vibrant colors, so it’s also some self-expression when you wear one,” added Blackburn.
The tuckerchief currently comes in three sizes, and is designed for ages 5 and up. The extra small is designed for 3-7 year-olds, the small covers most women’s wrists, and the medium covers most men’s wrists. The design features a button clasp and a wide variety of patterns and solid colors.
Tuckerchiefs are sold locally at the Killington Distillery, Forerunner Ski Shop, the Rutland Area Food Co-Op, the Lookout Tavern, and Liquid Art Restaurant. They are also available on Etsy and a website is currently under development.
Blackburn and DeFrancesco-Sias have big dreams for the tuckerchief. They currently have a patent pending, and would one day like to partner with other companies and organizations, such as the FIS Women’s World Cup, which is taking a break from Killington this season but is planned to return November 2026. A new Winter Hero design is currently in the works, which the pair hopes will be an accent to ski gloves.
“I’d love to see a tuckerchief on every wrist,” said DeFrancesco-Sias.
