The History of the Friendship Bracelet

Hint: It started waaaaay before summer camp.

Ever wondered how those iconic friendship bracelets got their start? Well, the first thing to know is that they’re a version of macramé, a craft which uses knot tying to create patterns (rather than weaving or knitting). In China, they’ve found decorative knots from as early as 481 to 221 (B.C.!)

While the craft itself originated in Arabia in the 13th century (travelling from there to Italy and France), the practice of giving a bracelet as a gift of friendship is traced to Central America. Sailors, too, furthered the skill, using their knowledge of knots to pass the time at sea.

There are two versions of the tradition: one has it that the recipient is to wear the bracelet until the cords wear out naturally as a way of honoring the love and hard work of the creator; the other tells that the wearer is entitled to a wish once the bracelet falls off. Either way, friendship rules!

The colors mean something, too:

Purple: royalty and magic
Turquoise: tranquility
Pink: kindness and beauty
Red: courage and confidence
Orange: energy and joy
Gray: wealth and security
Yellow: wisdom and joy
Green: health and balance
Blue: loyalty and truth
Black: honesty and strength
White: goodness and purity

Now, we’re choosing brighter and brighter colors and watching as patterns gets more and more creative (with names like chevron, candy stripes, broken ladder, totem pole, zig-zag, the Egyptian, hearts, and the wrap, who can resist?), and mixing up the corded look with added embellishments, opting to tie them on next to a mish-mash of bangles and other colorful strands.

We’ll take one for us and one for a friend!

Ana Osgood

SUNNIE BRACELET

Sunnie combines bold color, intriguing texture and a grown up way to wear a friendship bracelet. Crafted of cotton cord handwoven in a chevron pattern, Sunnie's gold plated bubble charm and foldover clasp make this bracelet a delightful throwback to summers past.

Ana Osgood

ADILE BRACELET

Playful yet sophisticated, Adile is the friendship bracelet you can still pull off. Handwoven in the Philippines and adorned with jade and fuchsia sparkle and glam set on a gold plated charm, Adile will have all your friends asking where you got your bracelet.

- Woven cloth, gold metal, jade and fuchsia stones

ShebySheree

LANAI BRACELET

A jumble of chains to befit boho and chic looks alike. Whether peeking from beneath jacket sleeves or layered with friendship bracelets, upper-edge atmosphere it adds is unmistakable.

- Gold-plated globe with Swarovski crystal accents

- 2" long tassel charm

- 6" diameter 

- Lobster claw clasp with 1" extender

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Thank you The Style Hub for the article