Hello readers! Welcome to my post on the emerging beading trend. Recently, elastic bracelets with plastic beads have made a comeback from the 90s, and are very much trending.

These beads range from very small beads called seed beads, to the typical large decorative beads.

Seed beads on AliExpress
(Source)

While many suppliers claim that seed beads are made of glass, they’re actually plastic, which explains the low prices. Instagram accessory shops have flourished and are making the most out of this trend. Beading is fun, it’s therapeutic, allows us to unleash our creativity, and simply put — is very cute. But buying these plastic beads are contributing to the production and demand for greater plastic. While many of us haven’t thrown away our plastic creations (yet, because it’s still trendy), we are undeniably contributing to the production of more plastic. The string used for these bracelets are also made from plastic that is sometimes elastic. Higher quality shops use finely threaded elastic and layer them to make the string thicker and stronger.

Granted, these seed beads are small, how much harm can they do? But what if a time comes years from now when these bracelets make their way into a landfill? Or worse, into our oceans? Seed beads are extremely small and can be consumed by fish. It is no different from plastic fragments on beaches.

@picnic.blanket on Instagram, a shop selling beaded accessories (Source)

While I really am a fan of this trend, I can’t help but think about future repercussions. As a beading enthusiast in my childhood, I’ve recently rekindled my love for it by cutting up old bracelets and making new ones with the old beads. How can I participate in this trend without consuming even more? Should I make accessories I know I will never throw away, or constantly recycle the same set of beads?

Clay beads and ceramic beads do exist, but the higher prices are less appealing to consumers. Furthermore, plastic beads come in a whole spectrum of colours, which makes it more preferable to the “natural” clay/ceramic beads. Maybe my new hobby can be making DIY ceramic beads at home.

I hope this post gave you some food for thought before splurging on beads to indulge in this trend. Perhaps look around at home to see if you have any beads left over from your childhood, or even ask around before buying — you never know who might be keeping a neglected beading kit at home!

♡, Qystina