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You must have noticed that portable fans are everywhere right now: on sweaty commutes, in stuffy meetings, and at shadeless sporting events. As the hot weather continues, neck fans, handheld electronic fans, and fans that spritz water are selling out fast.

But even if you can get your hands on one, they come with drawbacks: electric designs consume energy; they can run out of battery. And most are made from plastic, with concerns over how many poor-quality models will end up in landfill once the summer’s over.

There is another way: the hand fan. Using age-old human – rather than electronic – power, these concertina-fold fans won’t run out of juice; they’re super-affordable (the cheapest one below is £3.50); and they’re gorgeous objects in their own right, with a long history as fashion accessories – most recently seen all over the front rows at Paris couture week. As Jess Cartner-Morley put it: “Paper fans are so much more chic.”

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The best foldable hand fans

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For more, read our guide on how to sleep in a heatwave and readers’ top tips for staying cool