Remembering Rainbow Loom
A eulogy by Claire Laubenthal
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to honor the life and legacy of the Rainbow Loom, an outlet of creativity for many kids but an incredible money waster for parents. This four year long fad dominated summer camps and consumed the minds of nine year olds throughout the world. From the years of 2010-2014, Rainbow Loom was the talk of the town. The New York Times published a piece on the newly invented phenomenon while icons, such as Kate Middleton, Harry Styles, and David Beckham, sported the rubber band creations on their wrists.
Although it was created in 2010, Rainbow Loom truly peaked three years later. Kids ravaged the aisles of Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, elbowing innocent bystanders out of the way in order to purchase a new loom hook that they’ve already broken three times. Parents weighed the ominous decision of buying more Rainbow Loom bands or saving for college tuition. Children rushed home to then spend another four hours with their Rainbow Loom because you can never have enough fishtail style bracelets that are honestly always too small. The highlight of elementary school days were the top secret underground playground bracelet deals. Bracelets were exchanged for money, snacks, and other bracelets. One’s stature in the black market trade game depended on the color scheme and style: the use of charms was for the high end traders, but with such dedication to the art of Rainbow Loom also came some consequences.
Rainbow Loom’s downfall began in the year of 2014 when schools across the country banned the widely popular rubber band bracelets because students could no longer focus on their studies. Mass production was the death of the company. Rubber bands were overly distributed, and knockoff looms were stocked on shelves in almost every store. Thomas Vellios, the president of the retail chain Five Below, stated that the company was very quick to hop on the Rainbow Loom trend, but as months went by, Vellios noted that enthusiasm in kids over Rainbow Loom started to fade. Because of mass production, the prices of bands and looms started to drop. The $1-$2 profits from rubber bands were no longer beneficial to companies, so businesses started to remove Rainbow Loom from the shelves. Therefore, destroying every child’s dream of becoming a high class bracelet maker.
As every trend or fad fades, a new one takes its place. With the decline of Rainbow Loom came new smartphone apps and accessories, and the bracelet making tool was quickly forgotten. Rainbow Loom might be dead but we will never forget the impact it had on our childhood.
A eulogy by Claire Laubenthal
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to honor the life and legacy of the Rainbow Loom, an outlet of creativity for many kids but an incredible money waster for parents. This four year long fad dominated summer camps and consumed the minds of nine year olds throughout the world. From the years of 2010-2014, Rainbow Loom was the talk of the town. The New York Times published a piece on the newly invented phenomenon while icons, such as Kate Middleton, Harry Styles, and David Beckham, sported the rubber band creations on their wrists.
Although it was created in 2010, Rainbow Loom truly peaked three years later. Kids ravaged the aisles of Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, elbowing innocent bystanders out of the way in order to purchase a new loom hook that they’ve already broken three times. Parents weighed the ominous decision of buying more Rainbow Loom bands or saving for college tuition. Children rushed home to then spend another four hours with their Rainbow Loom because you can never have enough fishtail style bracelets that are honestly always too small. The highlight of elementary school days were the top secret underground playground bracelet deals. Bracelets were exchanged for money, snacks, and other bracelets. One’s stature in the black market trade game depended on the color scheme and style: the use of charms was for the high end traders, but with such dedication to the art of Rainbow Loom also came some consequences.
Rainbow Loom’s downfall began in the year of 2014 when schools across the country banned the widely popular rubber band bracelets because students could no longer focus on their studies. Mass production was the death of the company. Rubber bands were overly distributed, and knockoff looms were stocked on shelves in almost every store. Thomas Vellios, the president of the retail chain Five Below, stated that the company was very quick to hop on the Rainbow Loom trend, but as months went by, Vellios noted that enthusiasm in kids over Rainbow Loom started to fade. Because of mass production, the prices of bands and looms started to drop. The $1-$2 profits from rubber bands were no longer beneficial to companies, so businesses started to remove Rainbow Loom from the shelves. Therefore, destroying every child’s dream of becoming a high class bracelet maker.
As every trend or fad fades, a new one takes its place. With the decline of Rainbow Loom came new smartphone apps and accessories, and the bracelet making tool was quickly forgotten. Rainbow Loom might be dead but we will never forget the impact it had on our childhood.