Charity bracelets shouldn't be fashion trend
M.J. Editorial Board
Issue date: 3/15/05 Section: Perspectives
- Page 1 of 1
Rubber bracelets started as a way to support cancer research and have since become a full-fledged fashion trend.
From the original yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets to bracelets in a multitude of colors, the rubber bracelets now support everything from tsunami relief (teal) to American troops (green).
There are the pink bracelets that support breast cancer, Michigan bracelets in blue that donate proceeds to the new Mott's Children's Hospital and blue Pistons bracelets that donate money to the Read to Achieve program.
Some bracelets don't support anything at all and are simply available for people to add to their collection, such as the Nike bracelets and "inspirational" ones that say Dream or Wish.
We've honestly seen people with bands all the way up to their elbows, for what purpose?
Since the popularity of these bracelets has grown so much some of the meaning behind them has been lost. Once a cause for charity, the yellow Livestrong bracelets could only be found in limited athletic stores for a dollar. The only people seen wearing them were die-hard bikers along the mountain bike trails at Island Lake Park.
Having become the new must-have accessory, these bracelets are now on back order everywhere and go for a minimum of three dollars to a private seller on Ebay.
A lot of times, you can only buy the bands in sets of ten. You can't buy just one which further spreads the insanity of this trend because you can pass them out to all of your friends.
That means that there are nine other people sporting Livestrong on their wrist that wouldn't do so normally.
The idea behind this latest trend was great-it helped raise money for an important cause. Now we feel that this empire has gotten a bit out of hand.
You shouldn't buy and wear a band like this just because everyone else does-you should do it because you truly support the cause.
From the original yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets to bracelets in a multitude of colors, the rubber bracelets now support everything from tsunami relief (teal) to American troops (green).
There are the pink bracelets that support breast cancer, Michigan bracelets in blue that donate proceeds to the new Mott's Children's Hospital and blue Pistons bracelets that donate money to the Read to Achieve program.
Some bracelets don't support anything at all and are simply available for people to add to their collection, such as the Nike bracelets and "inspirational" ones that say Dream or Wish.
We've honestly seen people with bands all the way up to their elbows, for what purpose?
Since the popularity of these bracelets has grown so much some of the meaning behind them has been lost. Once a cause for charity, the yellow Livestrong bracelets could only be found in limited athletic stores for a dollar. The only people seen wearing them were die-hard bikers along the mountain bike trails at Island Lake Park.
Having become the new must-have accessory, these bracelets are now on back order everywhere and go for a minimum of three dollars to a private seller on Ebay.
A lot of times, you can only buy the bands in sets of ten. You can't buy just one which further spreads the insanity of this trend because you can pass them out to all of your friends.
That means that there are nine other people sporting Livestrong on their wrist that wouldn't do so normally.
The idea behind this latest trend was great-it helped raise money for an important cause. Now we feel that this empire has gotten a bit out of hand.
You shouldn't buy and wear a band like this just because everyone else does-you should do it because you truly support the cause.