What began as just another trend tied to Taylor Swift on social media platforms has quickly become a staple of the Eras Tour spectacle. Drawing inspiration from the line “Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment, and taste it…” featured in “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” a track from Swift’s album Midnights, Swift enthusiasts nationwide are crafting themed bracelets to exchange and distribute among fellow fans at each tour stop.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Before setting off for an Eras Tour concert, many followers dedicate hours to threading beads together, creating distinctive bracelets that nod to Swift’s influence. A fan in Chicago was spotted distributing a gallon-sized Ziploc bag brimming with these decorative pieces to nearby concertgoers. A variety of Swift’s lyrics and song titles from throughout her career find their way onto these artistic wrist accessories. While some bracelets bear straightforward tags like “Red,” “Eras Tour,” or “Evermore,” others feature more inventive shout-outs, including “Starbucks Lovers” and “It’s Me, Hi,” with “F— Ticketmaster” emerging as a surprisingly widespread choice.
Aligned with the debut of Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville unveiled new artwork in its Taylor Swift Education Center that showcases numerous bracelets that fans have presented to the pop icon.
This artwork celebrates the 2023 North American leg of the Eras Tour, incorporating unique posters with specific dates and cities along with what seems like hundreds of friendship bracelets Swift, aged 34, received from her fans, as per a press announcement.
Additionally, to coincide with TTPD’s release, several new items have been introduced at the Taylor Swift Education Center. These include a custom Taylor PSGA Koa guitar with Swift’s name etched into the fingerboard, which she played during The Red Tour, and the Deering Boston B6 six-string acoustic-electric banjo Swift used for her “Mean” performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards, where the track snagged awards for both best country solo performance and best country song. Swift also adorned this instrument with “13,” alongside lyrics from “Mean” and sketches of clouds and stars.
The outfit that Swift wore to the 2006 ACM Awards and the CMA Music Festival, which consists of a sequined BCBG Max Azria silk handkerchief dress and decoratively stitched metallic bronze BCBGGirls boots, is also visible to visitors.
The crafting of friendship bracelets has morphed into a widespread phenomenon at Swift’s shows, drawing participation from celebrities including Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Paulson, and many others who have displayed their Eras Tour mementos online.
Before Travis Kelce became officially associated with Swift, he was already clued into the bracelet trend, looking to present Swift with one bearing his contact information. However, as he shared on a July 2023 episode of his New Heights podcast, he couldn’t manage to meet her then. Fortunately, their paths eventually crossed, and they have been openly together since September 2023.
For attendees not keen on spending extensive time queuing for official merchandise, these bracelets serve as a cherished, wallet-friendly memento from perhaps one of the grandest tours ever.
An Eras Tour participant mentioned, “By the time I reached the merch stand, they’d run out of my size. Yet, receiving a collection of handmade bracelets from new friends I made tonight feels even more special.”
Alongside fans, venue staff, including security personnel, cashiers, and bartenders, are amassing their collections of bracelets. It’s becoming a common sight to see security staff adorned with these crafts up to their elbows—a testament to the friendly interactions with fans.
One attendee reflected, “This is a beautiful way for us to establish connections. It’s heartwarming to see everyone, including the staff, immersing themselves in it and bonding over our shared admiration for Taylor Swift.”
