Beads hold ancient roots, and their cultural significancecan be traced to their early use in bartering. Beads served as a primitivecurrency, and they still retain their value today. In modern times they arefound in the form of decoration as jewelry, rather than money.
In ancient days, people fashioned beads from a variety ofmaterials. Early materials ranged from fish bones to teeth. As cultures grewincreasingly sophisticated, so did the beads, techniques and materials withwhich they were created.
Today, beads are mostly used in jewelry making, textileembellishment and in the fashion industry. To yield a more "designer look,"crafters often choose glass lamp-work beads over plastic buttons in garments.Costume jewelers and makers of "fine jewelry" utilize a diversity ofbeads, which vary in intricacy of design. This adds a look of quality anduniqueness to their work.
Fine jewelry houses predominantly use precious and semi-preciousgemstone beads; the costume jewelry industry more often uses beads made ofplastic, acrylic, wood and glass. Skilled artists can use the inherentversatility and wide range of designs, manipulating beads in many ways tocreate their pieces. Endless stringing combinations and a plethora of cuts andfinishes ensures that beaded jewelry needs never look dull, boring or dated.
Recently, the home crafts market has seen an explosion inthe use and sale of beads. For example, they used to serve exclusively assmall, detailed embellishments for needle work projects. The last decade,however, has seen a surge of interest in beads. Accordingly, craft projecthobbies (a.k.a. making classic jewelry, beaded candle holders, curtains, andwind charms) have also enjoyed increased popularity.
In fashion, there has been a resurgence of the "hippieBohemian" look; people have consequently returned to using beads in theart of jewelry making. Beads have come to signify uniqueness in style andindividual expression. They provide a new, modern look in fashion. In the1970s, the public saw home made jewelry as a symbol of the "hippie"culture. Long strands of love beads were as interesting as things got. As theinternet blazed into the forefront of popular culture in society, the jewelrymaking market saw direct impact. Now crafters may easily communicate with eachother, sharing techniques and setting trends.
Ultimately, the bead charm bracelet is an example of how aclassic, Bohemian theme can be applied to create a contemporary look. The charmbracelet made its first appearance in jewelry during the 1950s. It has remainedpopular ever since, but has been largely limited to classic jewelry lines inthe form of precious metals.
The 1970s, for instance, witnessed resurgence in popularityof Bohemian culture in fashion. It empowered home jewelry makers to use theirlove of beads to update the classic look. Suddenly, charm bracelets withcolorful glass beads were everywhere. One could see them on catwalks in highfashion, as well as on the streets. The home crafter could select from a largevariety of beads to create his or her own style and unique fashion statement.
Styles come and go, but beads will always be in vogue.Whether you prefer an elegant, long string of pearls or a plastic stretchy beadbracelet, the bead is here to stay.
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