A brief history of friendship bracelets… here at Sun Souls, we are obsessed with the heart and soul of making, gifting and receiving friendship bracelets. So we thought we would put together a brief history of friendship bracelets for you. To share the historical soul of them with you too.

Friendship bracelets have been around for centuries as a way to symbolise the bond between friends and loved ones. They originated in Central and South America, over 2000 years ago, where people would weave colourful threads into patterns and gift them to their friends as tokens of friendship. There are also records of friendship bracelets at a similar time in history in central and south east Asia and Europe.

In the 1970s, friendship bracelets became very popular among young people in the United States. They were a form of self-expression and friendship, with the fashion being to stack them and collect them. Today, friendship bracelets remain popular all over the world across all ages. Now they are created in a wide variety of styles and materials and are worn as a symbolism of friendship, travels, and changing moments in life.

A brief history of friendship bracelets

Over time, friendship bracelets have evolved in many ways, being called wish bracelets, string bracelets, thread bracelets, wrap bracelets and more. While they still retain their original meaning of being a symbol of friendship and connection, they now come in a plethora of styles, designs, and materials. Additionally, there are now different techniques that can be used to create these bracelets, such as macrame, beading, crochet, wrapping, plaiting and more.

Friendship bracelets continue to hold the same significance today as they did in the past. Which is why here at Sun Souls we love them so much, as they were the first kit we launched. They still remain an ever popular way for people to express themselves, connect with others, and show their appreciation for the people in our lives. Many people also find making and exchanging these bracelets to be a fun and meaningful activity that helps them feel more connected to their friends and loved ones (book a workshop party here).

While friendship bracelets have certainly evolved over time, they continue to hold the same significance and soul. They still remain an important symbol of friendship and connection with our loved ones, across many cultures around the world. Who are you going to make one for?

Shine bright Sun Souls

Bridie