| In the last two years custom rubber bracelets | | | | everything. The yellow ones are the most |
| have invaded our life. And despite fashion | | | | well-known, popularized by ace cyclist and |
| gurus pronouncing them a 'passing fad' they | | | | cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. In fact, it |
| are still around -- and are still climbing | | | | was Armstrong's 'LiveStrong' custom rubber |
| the popularity charts.So what makes the | | | | bracelets that kicked off the trend of |
| custom rubber bracelets so popular? Highly | | | | wearing rubber bracelets.Then followed |
| customizable and cheap: those are the two | | | | numerous others: there were custom rubber |
| qualities that make these rubber wristbands | | | | bracelets for tsunami relief, to show support |
| so popular.The custom rubber bracelets can be | | | | to American troops, to rally students against |
| custom-manufactured for any purpose: charity, | | | | bullying, as a tool for crowd control, for |
| crowd control, storing medical information, | | | | just being trendy... Soon there was a flood |
| fashion... And the ordinary ones usually cost | | | | of those colorful solid rubber loops. By the |
| just around $1 a piece -- yes, with all those | | | | way, the custom rubber bracelets needn't be |
| customized messages and colors.What are | | | | really rubber. They are also made of |
| custom rubber bracelets? Well, they are | | | | silicone.Recently there has been a flood of |
| simply colorful rubber loops that can be | | | | criticism against the custom rubber |
| stretched over one's palms and worn on one's | | | | bracelets, caused mostly by the numerous |
| wrist. And they usually have some message | | | | rubber wristbands that have been popping up |
| stamped on them, such as 'Come Home Soon' | | | | all around with all kinds of silly messages. |
| (that is popular with the relatives of | | | | Does that mean society is getting fed up with |
| American servicemen) or any other message. | | | | the custom rubber bracelets?Not by a long |
| Some big hospitals even stamp information | | | | shot. Custom rubber bracelets are going to be |
| such as a patient's name, medication, | | | | around, whether their popularity rises or |
| timings, etc on the rubber band bracelets. | | | | wanes. Because they are so useful little |
| This allows the hospital staff to quickly | | | | devices, that can be put to use in a number |
| access the vital info without referring to a | | | | of situations. They may go out of fashion or |
| file in an emergency situation.Well, that is | | | | come into fashion, but they will always be |
| only one aspect of their customization | | | | around in some form or other, in some |
| ability. They can be ordered in any color -- | | | | situation or another.Shannan Barrett is an |
| yellow, green, pink, black, translucent, | | | | avid reader and market researcher. |
| glow-in-the-dark... there is a color for | | | | |