Sandana

Sandana is an American paintball clothing and headwear brand established around 1990. It is associated with patterned headwraps, headbands and the related Venomwear clothing range. Sandana products became recognisable within competitive paintball during the 1990s, particularly through their use by tournament players.[1][2]

The brand is associated with distinctive designs including Flying Skulls and Snakestripe. Following periods of reduced activity, Sandana returned to the market under new trademark registrations during the 2010s and continues selling paintball headwear and clothing.[3][4]

History

Origins

Sandana originated in Southern California around 1990.

United States trademark records identify the first use of the Sandana name in August 1990, with commercial use recorded from January 1991.[1]

The original trademark application was filed on 15 March 1993 by Sandana, a partnership based in Murrieta, California.

The trademark covered clothing including headbands, bandanas, wrapping headwear, shirts, trousers and other garments.

Registration was granted on 8 February 1994 under registration number 1,819,994.[1]

The identities of the original partners and the precise circumstances of the brand's establishment have not been independently established.

Expansion during the 1990s

Sandana became associated with specialist clothing and headwear designed for paintball players.

Its headwraps incorporated patterned fabric, terry-cloth sweatbands and extended material covering the back of the head and neck.

The company also marketed paintball clothing under the Venomwear name.

At the 1996 Paintball World Cup in Florida, Sandana exhibited alongside established equipment manufacturers and tournament suppliers.

Contemporary reporting by WARPIG identified Rob Kerr at the Sandana trade stand and documented Venomwear clothing being worn by players during the tournament.[2]

The company's distinctive patterns became associated with tournament paintball fashion during the 1990s.

Venomwear

Venomwear was a related Sandana clothing range offering patterned paintball apparel.

The range included camouflage-inspired fabrics and distinctive printed designs.

WARPIG documented Venomwear products at the 1996 Paintball World Cup and subsequently described the company's camouflage patterns as established paintball fashion during the early 1990s.[2][3]

The Venomwear name remains in use for clothing and accessories marketed through Sandana's official website.[4]

Changes in trademark ownership

The original Sandana trademark registration was cancelled on 17 February 2001 following failure to submit the required declaration of continued use.[1]

A subsequent Sandana trademark application was filed on 13 February 2007 by Brian W. Boswell of Murrieta, California.

The registration covered headwear, trousers, T-shirts and other clothing. It was granted on 30 October 2007 and cancelled on 6 June 2014.[5]

The available trademark records establish Boswell's ownership of that registration but do not conclusively document the full ownership history of the original business.

Return in 2008

Sandana returned to a prominent industry trade show during the 2008 PSP World Cup at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Florida.

WARPIG's contemporary coverage described the brand as returning after a period of reduced activity.

The company displayed headwraps and Venomwear camouflage products at the event.[3]

This establishes that Sandana was commercially active in 2008, although the available records do not establish the duration of its earlier hiatus.

Modern revival

The Sandana name entered a further period of commercial activity during the 2010s.

United States trademark records identify Marc Berolo as the registrant of the modern Sandana brand.

A trademark application filed on 5 January 2017 recorded first commercial use in September 2016.

The trademark was registered on 3 April 2018 under registration number 5,436,072.[6]

Additional Sandana trademarks covering paintball headwear and associated logos were registered to Berolo during 2019 and 2020.[7]

The Venomwear trademark was also registered to Berolo on 23 June 2020.[8]

These registrations establish the modern trademark arrangements but do not independently document the circumstances under which the earlier business or its intellectual property changed hands.

Sandana continues marketing products through its official website, including headbands, headwraps, clothing and accessories.

Products

Sandana is particularly associated with paintball headwear designed to be worn beneath protective goggles.

Its principal products include:

Headwraps: Fabric head coverings incorporating a sweatband and material extending over the back of the head and neck.
Headbands: Narrower fabric bands designed to absorb sweat and fit beneath paintball goggles.
Proline headwraps: Headwraps incorporating extended mesh coverage.
Venomwear: Patterned paintball clothing and accessories.
Other accessories: Mask straps, balaclavas and related headwear.

The modern range includes limited-production designs made using cotton bull denim and other fabrics.

Sandana identifies its headgear as manufactured in the United States.[4][9]

Patterns and designs

Sandana's identity is closely associated with distinctive printed fabrics.

Two of its established designs are:

Flying Skulls: A repeated skull pattern associated with Sandana headwraps and headbands.
Snakestripe: A camouflage-inspired pattern associated particularly with the Venomwear range.

Both patterns have appeared in different colours and fabric configurations.

The modern company continues producing these designs, including limited-edition colour variations.[4]

Paintball culture and collecting

Sandana headwear became associated with the appearance of tournament paintball players during the 1990s and 2000s.

Original headwraps and headbands subsequently developed a secondary market among collectors of historical paintball clothing.

Discussions on M.CarterBrown document interest in identifying early production examples, original tags, patterns and variations.

In August 2020, collectors discussed the value and identification of early Sandana headwraps, including examples purchased during the 1990s.[10]

A further discussion in March 2026 documented continued interest in original Sandana products and substantial variation in their resale prices.[11]

The modern Sandana brand also markets limited-edition releases intended partly for collectors.[4]

Historical significance

Sandana was among the specialist paintball clothing brands associated with the growth of tournament paintball during the early 1990s.

Its headwraps and Venomwear patterns contributed to the development of distinctive player clothing and headgear beyond conventional military-style camouflage.

The brand's continued recognition among collectors and its subsequent commercial revival reflect the preservation of clothing and visual styles associated with earlier periods of competitive paintball.

Original Sandana and Venomwear products remain documented through historical photographs, surviving advertisements and private equipment collections.

References

SANDANA Trademark, Registration Number 1819994. United States Patent and Trademark Office records, reproduced by USPTO.report. Original California partnership, first use, registration and cancellation dates.
NPPL 1996 World Cup: Vendors. WARPIG, October 1996. Contemporary coverage of Sandana, Rob Kerr and Venomwear.
2008 PSP World Cup Trade Show. WARPIG, October 2008. Contemporary documentation of Sandana's return and its historical apparel ranges.
Sandana. Official company website. Current products, Flying Skulls and Snakestripe designs.
SANDANA Trademark, Registration Number 3323256. United States trademark records. Brian W. Boswell's 2007 registration and its cancellation in 2014.
SANDANA Trademark, Registration Number 5436072. Justia Trademarks. Marc Berolo's registration, filed in 2017 and registered in 2018.
SANDANA Original Exclusive Patterns, Registration Number 5821893. Justia Trademarks. Registered 30 July 2019.
VENOMWEAR Trademark, Registration Number 6083712. Justia Trademarks. Registered 23 June 2020.
About Sandana. Sandana. Official description of materials, manufacturing and current product range.
Really Old Sandana. M.CarterBrown, 30 August 2020. Collector discussion concerning original Sandana headwear.
Sandana Prices Have Gone Out of Control. M.CarterBrown, 30 March 2026. Collector discussion concerning vintage Sandana resale prices.

External links