In the ‘60s it was Pet Rocks, in the ‘70s, leisure suits. The ‘80s had jelly bracelets, the ‘90s had slap on ruler bracelets. And now, the ‘00s it’s… political statement bracelets?
Lance Armstrong (and Nike) introduced the yellow “Livestrong” bracelets to raise cancer awareness and raise money for cancer research. Granted, the Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised many millions of dollars for research, and that is commendable. However, the way the world has responded to these bracelets is shocking and appalling. They have become a hot fashion statement, an outfit accessory, and, worse, a moral status symbol. People who have never donated to cancer research in the past, and who probably would never just donate money to cancer research for its own sake, make up the primary market for the bracelets.
The demand for these items as a fashion statement, (not as a charitable cause) have created a secondary market on e-bay and other websites. The demand is so high that most people are willing to pay anything for the yellow bracelets, you know, to show how much they want to support cancer research and stuff, even if none of the money that they pay goes toward cancer research. Just donating isn’t good enough. Everybody has to see it.
This is bad enough. But what’s worse is the rash of bracelet imitators that have sprung up. It’s easy enough to mass produce oversized rubber bands with words printed on them, and many have. There are fraudulent pink “Livestrong” bracelets as well as other Livestrong frauds. But there’s also a multitude of bracelets with nothing to do with cancer. “I’m a blue-stater” blue bracelet. “I’m in love” red bracelet. I’ve seen a guy on the street wearing three different colors of these damn bracelets, and they look stupid.
Everybody wants them, for FASHION, and they’re UGLY. They are COLORED RUBBER BANDS. They are cheezy, plain and simple. Pet rock redux.