Bracelets worn in memory of a loved one have a long history in America. We can trace them back to the Vietnam War when a group of college students began the initiative to emboss the names of American Prisoners of War on metal bracelets. These bracelets were worn until the POWs returned home, upon which the bracelet was given to them.
Over time, memorial bracelets worn in memory of deceased loved ones or tragic losses took shape, bearing a clear resemblance to the POW bracelets of the 1970s.
If you’re in the market to make memorial bracelets of your own but you’re not sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Customized bracelets are our passion and we’ve got all the answers!
Read on to find out more about how to make memorial bracelets and where to do it!
Designing Memorial Bracelets: The Basics
When you’re designing memorial bracelets, you’ll need to choose a color for the bracelet and decide between having them debossed or embossed. All of them are made out of silicone, as this is a stretchy, waterproof, durable material.
Debossed bracelets are the most commonly purchased and distributed form of memorial bracelets. The letters, numbers, and symbols are stamped into the silicone.
You don’t have to worry about fading with debossed bracelets, as the message is indented into the silicone using either a custom mold or a laser cutter. If you’d prefer that the message appears in a contrasting color to the band, itself, you can opt to have the indentations filled with either silicone or ink.
Embossed bracelets come in one solid color. Rather than stamping the letters, numbers, and symbols into the silicone, the message is raised a bit from the band. The letters and other characters use the same silicone that is constructing the band and has to be cast in a mold.
Designing Memorial Bracelets: The Specifics
When you’re choosing a supplier, there are a few things you need to consider, including the level of customization and bulk pricing. Read on to find out more.
How Much Do You Want to Customize Your Bracelet?
Not all suppliers will allow you much room in the customization department. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll charge you less but simply that they won’t be able to meet your needs.
Think about color. Are you looking for primary colors or pastels? Gem tones or earth tones?
Perhaps you want to get several batches in different shades of the same color. If you have something specific in mind, look for a supplier that offers a wide variety of color options.
What about the font? Maybe a standard print doesn’t seem to fit the personality of the loved one you’re memorializing and something more elegant or fun would be better suited. If so, look for a supplier that offers more than one font.
Finally, think about the size. Adult bracelets won’t exactly fit the wrist of a toddler and vice versa!
Plus, you may have your eye on a specific density. Maybe you’re going for something understated, like a 1/4-inch band, or something bold, like a 1-inch band.
Make sure your supplier offers different sizes, both in width and density.
What Do You Want to Use it For?
Think about your intentions for your memorial bracelets. Are they to be handed out to friends and family who attend a memorial service, or do you want to use them as part of a wider campaign to spread awareness or raise money for a cause?
Memorial bracelets are a great way to raise money. The most widely known fundraiser that used bracelets as part of its campaign was the LiveStrong fundraiser. Between 1997 and 2012, LiveStrong raised over $500 million for cancer research, in large part with the help of those yellow bracelets we all donned for several years!
If you’re using your bracelets to raise money, you’ll need to think about turning a profit to donate to your charity of choice. What is a reasonable price to ask for your bracelet and how much can you afford to spend on the cost of making them?
If you’re looking to buy memorial bracelets in bulk, find a supplier that offers reduced prices for bulk orders. That way, even if you only charge a dollar or two per bracelet, you’ll still make a sizable profit for your charity!
How Quickly Do You Need It?
Whether you’re running a fundraiser or organizing a service, you’ve got a lot going on. You may not have much time to spare designing and receiving these bracelets.
If you don’t have much time, look for a supplier that offers a 24-hour turn around time. At Custom Rubber Bracelets, we can have both laser debossed wristbands and dual-layered wristbands made, shipped, and delivered all within 24 hours of your order!
Choose Custom Rubber Bracelets for Your Customized Bracelet Needs
Memorial bracelets are a great way to pay homage to a loved one and carry a reminder of them with you everywhere you go. They’re stretchy enough to fit over the biggest hands but durable enough to survive the wear and tear of the mightiest toddlers!
If you have questions about our products, pricing, or delivery, contact us today! If you’re not in need of any assistance and just want to get designing, head to our design center! We’ve always got a few surprises up our sleeve (like glow in the dark silicone!) and we think you’ll be pleased with what you find there.
