The sweatband was originally invented by tennis and sportswear legend Fred Perry in order to be able to absorb sweat from his hands and face on the court. Today, sport wristbands come in many shapes, sizes and materials and they're used for more reasons than their name implies.
Sweat
Though people wear them for all sorts of fashion reasons these days, the terry cloth wristbands were originally designed to absorb sweat. They are still used in this manner by many athletes, most notably tennis and basketball players, and runners. Athletes use the wristbands to wipe sweat from their face and eyes. For tennis and basketball players, the wristband also helps to keep their hands sweat-free. It's rare to see a professional tennis player on the court without a wristband on his arm.
Fundraising and Causes
Silicone wristbands have become synonymous with fundraising efforts and support of major causes. The idea was started by bicyclist Lance Armstrong when he used Livestrong yellow wristbands to bring attention to cancer. The wristbands became a worldwide phenomenon and could be spotted on supporters around the globe.
U.S. tennis player Andy Roddick uses blue wristbands with the words "No Compromise" to raise money for the Andy Roddick Foundation, which works to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children. The blue wristbands are popular within the tennis industry among fans and fellow players.
Many other important causes usee wristbands to help in fundraising efforts and awareness. Pink wristbands are used breast cancer, red for AIDS, orange or green for leukemia, and purple for lupus.
Promotions
Silicone wristbands have also made their way into the for-profit sector and are being used by companies as a means of advertising and promotion. The low cost of the wristbands means they are easy to order in large quantities and companies can freely hand them out to employees and clients. The Promotion Advisor reports that people tend to wear and keep the wristbands long after the particular event has ended, which additional time and ways to get your company name out in the public's eye. And wristbands are appropriate for all types of businesses, including corporate, nonprofit, schools, churches, entertainment, sports and cause awareness organizations.
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