The 21st Century T-shirt

As seen in ones, twos, and threes, those rubber wristbands can be seen everywhere in seemingly every color coming a long way since bright yellow. These bands allow wearers to proudly display their causes on their wrists and support those that are near to their hearts.

LIVESTRONG, the initial effort created by Nike for Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, has sold some 50 million of the bands in the last year, far exceeding the initial five million made. The wristbands are meant to represent unity and hope in the battle against cancer and those living with cancer. According to Armstrong, at their peak, the bands have been selling approximately 100,000-200,000 a day online. They can be found at: www.nike.com/wearyellow.

Several other foundations have hopped on the wristband bandwagon, in the hopes that the uber-popular trend will help their causes receive attention and contributions. These include causes ranging from cancer, diabetes and AIDS.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation sells pink bands on their web site, www.komen.org, which say “Sharing the Promise.” The promise refers to one made by Susan G. Komen’s sister Nancy, who promised her sister that she would do what she could to defeat the disease that took Susan’s life.

“Care, cure and commitment” is the message behind the American Diabetes Association’s red wristbands. The sale of their bands aim’s to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Check out: www.diabetes.org.

ONE, the campaign to eliminate poverty, hopes to unify the world in the support for humanitarian assistance and the fight against AIDS, with the sale of these white wristbands. For more information, visit: www.one.org.