Electric fans are selling out fast, but the humble folding fan is this summer's chicest and most sustainable cooling accessory. As the hot weather continues, neck fans, handheld electronic fans, and water-spritzing fans are in high demand. However, they come with drawbacks: they consume energy, can run out of battery, and are often made from plastic, raising concerns about landfill waste.
Enter the hand fan. Using age-old human power, concertina-fold fans never run out of juice, are super-affordable (the cheapest below is £3.50), and are gorgeous objects with a long history as fashion accessories. They were recently seen all over the front rows at Paris couture week. As Jess Cartner-Morley put it: “Paper fans are so much more chic.”
Best Foldable Hand Fans
- £7 at Accessorize
- £6 at John Lewis
- £3.50 at Flying Tiger
- £15 at the Japanese Shop
- £4.49 at Tesco
- £35 at the Small Home
- £9.99 at H&M
- £17.14 at Etsy
- £7 at Accessorize
- £58 at Khu Khu
- £24 at Free People
- £12 at Royal Ballet & Opera
- £10 at About Living
- £17.99 at Parfois
- £15.90 at Etsy
How to Stay Cool in a Heatwave
For more tips, read our guide on how to sleep in a heatwave and readers' top tips for staying cool. Hand fans are a stylish, eco-friendly alternative to electric fans, and they can be used anywhere, anytime.
