By Michelle Tan • UrbanWire
email reporter • email story • printer friendly

Step aside, ribbons and badges; it appears your days are over. A newer and hipper way to show your support for a cause has hit town - even if it’s worn on your wrist instead.

The Band That Started It All
Silicone rubber wristbands have become the new trend among youth, many of whom have been seen sporting a yellow one as of late. The band in question, of course, is the now famous LiveStrong wristband. Created by American cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong and supported by sports brand mogul Nike, this wristband is sold in support of cancer research.

Thanks to the headstart given by the LiveStrong wristband, bands for various causes, ranging from supporting breast cancer research to supporting American troops overseas, have popped up all over the market.

Locally, they are also popping up in stores. Local streetwear shop 77th Street has come up with its own bands too . These bands, which retail at $2.20 each, are engraved with the words ‘Live Your Life’.

One person who finds strength in wearing the wristband is NS man Royston Chiew, who wears his orange ‘Live Your Life’ band “for inspiration”.

“Life in the army can get quite monotonous, so the wristband inspires me to press on despite the monotony,” says the 19-year-old.

Inspiring as these wristbands may be, the question still stands: Has this fun way of showing support ended up becoming just another profitable fashion trend?

A Cause For Money?
Aside from Nike, competitor brands have also been cashing in on the wristband trend. Reebok has their Allen Iverson wristbands, while Adidas has also come up with their own wristbands, sold in a pack of 3s.

And if people aren’t content with the wristbands available on the market, you can even get your own engraved. Websites like siliconeband.com are offering debossed (engraved) wristbands – you can choose what goes on the band, the color and the font. It’s US$1.36 (S$2.20) each for 1000 bands, to US$0.41 (S$0.66) each for 20,000 bands.

The major sporting brands aren’t the only ones cashing in on the wristband trend. A quick check on the Singapore Yahoo! Auctions page show about 130 auctions have been put up for various wristbands – most going at sky-high prices. The average starting bid for a LiveStrong band on the auctions page is $8 to $10, compared to the original price of US $1 (S$1.60). Some bands are going at even more ridiculous prices, like up to $45.

However, many young people are fortunate enough to get their LiveStrong bands for free. One such person is 19-year-old James Quah, who got his from a friend.

“It looks good, and a lot of sporty people wear it,” says the polytechnic student. However, he adds that it’s not the main reason why he wears the wristband, and that his “wearing [the wristband] also makes a statement”.

Unfortunately, some wearers don’t even know what the LiveStrong wristband stands for. 13-year-old student Alisa Lim admitted that she’s only wearing the band “because my friends are wearing it”.

The Wristband List
If you’re one of those who wear their wristbands just because the cool kids are doing so, it’s time to be in the know. UW goes through some of the bands that have been showing up on many wrists around town. Have you been supporting the right cause?

The Livestrong Wristband

The pioneer of the wristband trend, this band is in support of cancer survivors, like Armstrong himself.

Colours: Yellow
Cost: US$10 (S$16.50) for a 10-pack (Adult/Youth sizes), US$100 (S$165) for a 100-pack, or US$1,200 (S$1,979) for a 1,200-pack, exclusive of shipping costs.
For more information: wearyellow.org

(Image from wearyellow.org)

The Seeing Is Believing Wristband

Endorsed by Standard Chartered Bank, these wristbands are in support of the visually handicapped.

Colours: Blue and Green
Cost: $4
For more information: Visit a Standard Chartered branch to purchase the bands.

The Stand Up, Speak Up Wristband

Created by Nike, these bands are part of a campaign for football fans and players alike ‘to show their opposition to racism’ both on and off the pitch, according to the official website. Footballers like Arsenal’s Thierry Henry have been seen wearing the band.
Colours: Black and White
Cost: Nike requests that a minimum donation of 2 Euros (S$4.25) be made in exchange for the band, and according to the website, proceeds ‘will be distributed… to support anti-racism projects and initiatives across Europe’.
For more information: nike.com/standupspeakup

(Image from nike.com/standupspeakup)

The Worth Waiting For Wristband

Produced by Focus On The Family Singapore {FOFTS), these bands are to mark Abstinence Awareness Day on Feb 14. According to a report in The Sunday Times, 4,500 of these bands were snapped up when they were sold along Orchard Road on Feb 12.
Colours: Red and White, symbolising true love and purity respectively
Cost: $2. The proceeds go to FOFTS’s various activities, like the No Apologies workshops.
For more information: http://www.family.org.sg/WWF/

The Bands For Freedom Wristband

This band, which has the word ‘FREEDOM’ engraved on it, is in support of the US Armed Forces. The proceeds go to the “troops and their families through the Armed Forces Relief Trust”, according to the official website.

Colours: Red/Blue/White/Marble/Camouflage
Cost: US$10 for a 10-pack (Adult/Youth sizes), US$50 (S$82.50) for a 50 pack, US$100 for a 100-pack, or US$1,000 (S$1,649) for a 1,000-pack, exclusive of shipping costs.
For more information: bandsforfreedom.com

(Image from bandsforfreedom.com)

The DieHARD Wristband

This black wristband is the ‘trendy anti-trend’, according to the official website, adding that ‘You Are The Cause’ it supports. The wristband is “about being tough and supporting yourself”.

Colours: Black
Cost: US$2.95 (S$4.80) for a single band (Adult/Youth sizes), US$19.95 (S$32.90) for a pack of 10, or US$79.95 (S$131.90) for a pack of 50, exclusive of shipping costs.
For more information: weardiehard.com

(Image from weardiehard.com)

The Living In Pink Wristband

In support of Breast Cancer Research and Awareness, the Living In Pink Mission, an independent organisation, ‘helps to fund breast cancer research through the sale of [their] products’, like the pink wristband.

A similar wristband for the same cause is that run by US supermarket chain Target. Its Target Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet is in support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. At press time, the wristband was sold out ‘due to popular demand’.

Colours: Pink
Cost: The Living In Pink wristbands come in a 25-Pack for US$50, a 50-pack for US$100, and a 100-pack for US$200, exclusive of shipping. The Target wristbands are retailing at US$10 for a set of 10, but are sold out.
For more information: livinginpink.com

(Image from livinginpink.com)

Main picture by Michelle Tan