Slap Bracelets
Slap Bracelets Nostalgia
What child of the 80s or 90s didn’t know the joys of a crisp new slap bracelet?
These fads were more than just a piece of jewelry for kids. They transcended the gender barrier – and it was suddenly cool for guys to wear bracelets.
At school recesses, all you’d hear would be a constant snap, slap, whap of bracelets on wrists.
Trading was popular too – mini-barter systems were set up, and two neon-green slap bracelets might fetch a tiger print from a friend. Empires of friendship were built from one new slap bracelet trick. (The most well known of these was to extend the bracelet, throw it in the air, and catch it on an arm or leg.) For a time, slap bracelets were the toy to have.
Now, these colorful trinkets might be gone from the playgrounds, but they aren’t forgotten.
Slap Bracelets History
In 1983, the first slap bracelet was created by Stuart Anders, a high-school shop teacher from Wisconsin, USA. Experimenting with steel ribbons, he accidentally came across a design and structure that could go from a rigid band to a curved ring with a quick slap.
It wasn’t until 1990 that Anders met Eugene Murtha, the President of Main Street Toy Company. Murtha brought with him previous experience with Coleco, makers of the much beloved Cabbage Patch Dolls.
After this wristoric meeting, “Slap Wraps” was released to millions of children. It was an instant hit.
Some schools banned slap bracelets: click here to find out why.
Slap Bracelets Construction
Slap bracelets, also called snap bracelets or snap wraps, were a very simple construction. They were a band of tensioned metal covered with a colorful fabric.
The metal band, because of its unique construction, was able to “snap” from straight into a ring shape. Think of it like a mini Venetian blind, with a ridge all the way around.
Snazzy fabrics cover the metal, and Slap Wrap, as well as many imitators, took to making very more and more flashy designs.
How does it do it? The magic of springs and science.
Buy Slap Bracelets
Not many stores carry slap bracelets these days, but a few online suppliers do sell them. Check out Designed 2B Sweet:
 Groovy Tie-Dye Slap Bracelets |
 50 Pack Slap Bracelet Assortment |
 Shiny Metallic Slap Bracelets |
 Fuzzy Slap Bracelets |
