The long beans were ready, the farm-stay cabins were booked, and the owner of a small countryside farm was fastening a square of cloth around the neck of Tofu, her cream-coloured mixed breed, while the first guests parked their cars. Tofu greets everyone who comes through the gate, so on a busy harvest weekend she is, in effect, the receptionist.
A receptionist needs a name badge. That was the thinking behind swapping her old gingham neckerchief for something with her own portrait on it.
Why a bandana suits a working farm
Bandanas are an old countryside staple. Farmers have tied them around their necks for generations, and on a dog they look friendly and relaxed rather than formal. The trouble with most shop-bought ones is the print: checks, stars, a scattering of paw marks, the same on every dog in the district.
Tofu’s portrait, on the cloth
Her owner asked Little Red Cute to make Tofu a personalised dog bandana. A single photo of Tofu is where the illustration begins, and sublimation then uses heat to press the artwork into cloth that is entirely polyester. A buckle does the fastening instead of a knot, and the cloth is made to be washed, which matters on a farm where nothing stays clean past ten in the morning.
Quick questions from guests
What sizes are there? Small is for necks from about 35 up to 44 cm, medium from about 39 up to 51, and large from about 42 up to 56. Tofu’s owner measured with a sewing tape before choosing.
What kind of photo do you need? Sharp and bright, with her whole face showing and turned more or less to the lens; a phone camera copes perfectly well. The one used for Tofu was taken on the cabin steps on a bright afternoon.
Do you see it before it is made? Yes. Upload, pick a style, and the completed artwork appears for you to look over. You pay after you approve, nothing is produced before that, and every bandana is made to order here in Singapore.
Is it only for farm dogs? Not at all, though Tofu would argue farm dogs have the strongest claim.
After the last car leaves
When the harvest weekend wraps up, the bandana goes into the wash with the tea towels and Tofu goes back to supervising the chickens. Several guests left knowing her name without ever being introduced, which, for a receptionist with four legs, counts as a job well done.