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Must-have accessory or naff bit of plastic? GenerationWhy takes a look at why the wristband has become a fashion staple, and what this means for the charities they are associated with.
Sherlock Homes once had to investigate The Speckled Band, but even he’d probably be scratching his head over the current fad sweeping the nation. In the space of a few months, we’ve become a nation of band junkies, with charities across the UK coming up with countless colours and types for us to choose from.
You’re probably already familiar with the trend-setting Make Poverty History wristbands (as promoted by Nelson Mandela, no less) and some of the other major bands like Livestrong and racism in football.
But what started out as a way to raise awareness has, in other instances, become a major commercial enterprise, with organisations and individuals racing to get in on the act.
A spectrum of bands
As a result, buying a wristband has become a more complicated business. If you get it from a market or individual eBay seller, you can pretty much guarantee that the associated charity won’t be seeing any of your money. And with so many organisations now involved, one colour can represent more than you think. Be honest: how many of those below did you know?
| Colour of band |
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What it symbolises |
White
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Make Poverty History, Jesus Loves Me, Right to Life |
Yellow
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Livestrong, Support Our Troops |
Blue
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Anti-Bullying, Anti-Bush Vote, Tsunami Relief, Prostate Cancer, Cleaner Air Campaign |
Red
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HIV Awareness, Heart Disease, Vote Bush, Anti-Tobacco |
Black & white
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Stand Up Speak Up (against racism in football) |
| Green |
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Ecology, Support Our Troops, Leukaemia, Organ Donor, Peace |
| Purple |
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Cystic Fibrosis, Domestic Violence, Lupus |
| Orange |
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Asperger's, Self-harm, Lupus |
| Grey |
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Diabetes, Brain Cancer |
| Pink |
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Breast cancer |
| Gold |
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Childhood Cancer |
| Black |
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Mourning, melanoma |
So, you might buy a red band to support HIV awareness, but that’s also the colour wristband the pro-Bush camp uses. Or you could be wearing a green band to make a statement about peace – but inadvertently stating you’re an organ donor. It’s a confusing business.
The only way to guarantee you’ve got an official band, and your money’s gone to the charity you want, is to buy from the charities themselves. The Make Poverty History wristbands, for example, can be bought from Oxfam shops or even via your mobile - text BAND to 87140 (Cost of text is £1.50 for initial message plus your standard text rates. Allow 28 days for delivery).
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