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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Suman Naishadham and Manu Fernandez

The stylish accessory keeping Europeans cool amid scorching heatwaves

A traditional accessory has become ubiquitous across crowded Spanish metro carriages and sunlit plazas this year, driven by the intense summer heat.

Small enough to fit inside a handbag, the classic folding hand fan, or abanico, opens into a semicircle. A simple flick of the wrist produces a surprisingly strong breeze.

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