The Meaning Behind the Taylor Swift Friendship Bracelets Trend
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has become synonymous with friendship bracelets.
Friendship bracelets, once seen as a nostalgic trend of the past, have made a comeback thanks to Swift. Fans are making and swapping dozens, or even hundreds, of them at live shows.
The bracelets are made using braided material or beads and shared with close friends. They can be traced back to Indigenous communities in Central and South America and became popular among hippies in the 1970s and with schoolchildren in the 90s and early 2000s.
What are friendship bracelets?
Friendship bracelets swapped at the Eras tour are typically made of beads, using a variety of colors and spelling out different words and catchphrases, like song lyrics, titles or fandom inside jokes.
Fans are flooded with tutorials on how to make their own friendship bracelets for the tour and sharing their creations all over TikTok. Some even gather before the show to create bracelets together and there are Facebook groups dedicated to swapping crafting tips and outfit ideas.
Why are fans making and swapping them?
The trend started when Swift’s song, You’re on Your Own, Kid, from her album Midnights was released in October 2022, and fans suggested they make friendship bracelets to swap at the Eras tour.
Are beads really selling out?
Craft stores have reported a great demand for beads since the Australian leg of the tour was announced and have seen a significant increase in sales.
The purchase of friendship bracelet kits has significantly increased, and a cottage industry of Swift-themed bracelets has emerged, with people selling their handmade wares through Instagram and Etsy.
Has the trend spread beyond Taylor Swift?
The trend has taken on a life of its own and has been reclaimed by Gen Z’ers and millennials. Friendship bracelets have been spotted being given to other celebrities and even sparked a romantic connection between Swift and Kansas City Chiefs NFL player, Travis Kelce.
What is behind the huge appeal?
The appeal of the trend may come from Gen Z’s love of nostalgic 2000s trends, fostering a sense of in-person community and passing on an old hobby to future generations.