Are you seeking to promote a good cause? Are you seeking to spread awareness about a medical condition? Or do you want to just put across a simple message? Well, you can always do this through word of mouth or other means. Now, however, you can do this in a fashionable way. Awareness jewellery, all the rage now, could be just perfect for you. You can spread the message you want to, in a hip and happening manner.

Awareness jewellery was introduced in the market for the first time in the 1980s, in the form of rubber or silicone bracelets with a message on them. These bracelets were known as 'Silicone bracelets' or 'Gel bracelets'. The trend of using these bracelets was a fluctuating one, with its popularity rising and falling the world over.

In 2003, silicone bracelets became the subject of controversy in certain countries, wherein they were associated with an expression of a desire for immodest sexual behaviour. However, the popularity of these bracelets surged in the year 2004, when the Lance Armstrong Foundation introduced a yellow rubber bracelet with a message on it, with the aim of spreading awareness about and raising support for cancer patients. These bracelets became popular by the name of Livestrong® bracelets. The programs undertaken by the Foundation as well as the bracelets were widely talked about on The Oprah Show, which contributed to the popularity of the bracelet.

By the year 2005, similar bracelets began to be used by a number of organizations, charities and people for popularizing their cause. A number of charities began to be benefited through awareness bracelets.

With the passage of time, apart from the original cause of supporting a noble cause, silicone and rubber bracelets began to be used declaring one's life motto or belief. Support of troops, free speech, homeless programmes, supporting school education, and disaster relief are some of the causes for which silicone bracelets have been used. These bracelets also began to be available for a wide range of medical conditions - diabetes, cancer, thalassemia, AIDS, leukemia and Alzheimer's, among others.

Different colours began to be used in the bracelets to signify different conditions. For instance, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation uses pink silicone bracelets with the message 'Sharing the promise' on them. The Diabetes Research Institute used red bracelets with the message 'Insulin is not a cure', and the non-profit organization Keep a child alive also used a red bracelet to propagate their cause. Also, different styles of imprinting the message on the bracelet began to be used. Messages began to be embossed, debossed and laser-engraved on the bracelet.

Silicone bracelets became a popular means of spreading awareness, which can be attributed to a number of factors. They are highly durable, flexible as well as heat- and water-resistant. They are colourful and trendy, at the same time being inexpensive. They can be worn by people of both sexes. Some people prefer wearing a number of bracelets can also be worn on one hand. Recently, silicone bracelets have begun to be used by all kinds of organizations, including churches, schools and colleges. Today, these bracelets are also being used by corporates to popularize trade fairs and to advertise their products.