Who Started the Rubber Awareness Bracelets Trend?

The History of Bracelets in General

Before knowing who started the rubber awareness bracelets trend, it is important for us to know on how and where bracelets originated. Bracelets are classified as pieces of jewelry that must have originated in ancient Egypt. The earliest known bracelets can be dated back to 2000 BC. Egyptian women used bracelets to showcase wealth, fame and the power of their husbands.

There are different types of bracelets and these are classified into bangles, beaded bracelets, link bracelets, charm bracelets, slap bracelets, sports bracelets and alternative health bracelets.

Modern Bracelets

Modern bracelets have paved the way to the rubber awareness bracelets trend. The question of who started the trend is difficult to answer because no particular person has started the trend. Collectively, punks have started the trend during the 70s and 80s according to some researchers. Pop stars like Cindy Lauper and Madonna wore rubber rings of different colors.

There are also researchers who have linked the rubber awareness bracelets to modern legends. One of the legends mentioned would be the set of colorful rings worn by teenagers in the 90s. They say that most parents were anxious about the stories behind these rings; that each colored ring represent a sexual position that their teenage son or daughter is willing to do. Other accounts say that the thick rubber band used in bundling asparagus was worn as accessories by children and thus production companies intentionally embed commercial messages on these rubber bands.

As part of NBA fashion, basketball players from various NBA teams sported rubber band bracelets. This trend has continued even today. These rubber bands come in different colors for specific teams and as players tend to wear them on and off court, they became popular and thus became a famous trend for basketball fans.

In order to raise funds for cancer research, the Lance Armstrong Foundation sold wristbands for one dollar a piece. The wristband from the Livestrong group has the color yellow and has “LiveStrong” printed across the band. It became so popular that it was able to raise enough funds to conduct important clinical tests and research for cancer cure.

Popular Representations of Bracelet Colors

Different colors of bracelets may mean supporting different campaigns. Red bracelets are usually for AIDS, heart disease and diabetes prevention. Yellow bracelets are to support cancer research facilities. Green bracelets signify environmental and ecological support. Pink bracelets are for breast cancer. White bracelets are for antipoverty and Christian groups. Blue bracelets support anti-child abuse. And finally, purple bracelets are for domestic violence awareness.

Rubber bracelets have come a long way from their early beginnings. From being regarded as an important jewelry artifact during the early times, it has evolved to a simple yet significant piece of fashion accessory. Many have seen its impact on culture, marketing and modern campaign management. Rubber bracelets will continue to be part of our culture and love for clothing and art. In the coming years, it is expected that rubber bracelets will be even more stylish and functional. As what we can see today, there are already watch style bracelets, mosquito repellant bracelets and USB wristbands available in the market. Don’t you think that these are already the future evolutions of rubber awareness bracelets?