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


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


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


By the year 2005, similar braceletsbegan to be used by a number of organizations, charities and people forpopularizing their cause. A number of charities began to be benefited throughawareness bracelets.


With the passage of time, apart fromthe original cause of supporting a noble cause, silicone and rubber braceletsbegan to be used declaring one's life motto or belief. Support of troops, freespeech, homeless programmes, supporting school education, and disaster reliefare some of the causes for which silicone bracelets have been used. Thesebracelets 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 usedin the bracelets to signify different conditions. For instance, the Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Foundation uses pink silicone bracelets with the message 'Sharingthe promise' on them. The Diabetes Research Institute used red bracelets withthe message 'Insulin is not a cure', and the non-profit organization Keep achild alive also used a red bracelet to propagate their cause. Also, differentstyles of imprinting the message on the bracelet began to be used. Messages beganto be embossed, debossed and laser-engraved on the bracelet.


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


 

The latest fad in silicone jewellery is silicone rings, which are also available with a variety of messages and in a wide array of colours. A number of jewellery manufacturers are also coming up with 'awareness jewellery' - beautiful, stylishly designed metal jewellery that spread awareness about a number of medical conditions and other causes.


In today's times, awareness jewellery is being largely accepted in different parts of the world. Available for almost every imaginable cause, in every imaginable colour and design, in a variety of sizes and with a wide range of messages, awareness jewellery can be easily purchased from fancy stores, as well as from the Internet.


So, what are you waiting for? Flaunt your motto or that cause you deeply believe in, and do it in style with some awareness jewellery!


References:


1)       http://www.ranked1.net

2)       http://bagwellpromotions.com

3)       http://wisegeek.com

4)       http://en.wikipedia.org


Picture courtesy:


1)       http://bagwellpromotions.com

2)       http://www.generousgems.com

3)       http://www.churchsupplier.com

4)       http://www.jackeesjewels.com