The painted, drawn, and stickered rainbows people have been posting in windows and storefronts throughout COVID-19 crisis—a symbol of hope for better, sunnier days ahead—inspired retailer and jewelry designer Steven Billig to create the Rainbow for Hope bracelet, one of the most wearable charitable jewels we’ve seen during the pandemic.
The multicolored tiled stretch bracelet, which recalls Roxanne Assoulin’s colorful jewelry, boasts four letter tiles that spell out “HOPE.” Five dollars from every $25 bracelet is donated to the American Nurses Association Coronavirus Response Fund and Feeding America. At press time, Billig had raised more than $7,000 in total for the two nonprofits.
The bracelet’s summery, unisex design is cheerful and stylish—and its price, $25, makes it an uncomplicated buy.
“I wanted to make something that anyone can wear everyday,” Billig, co-owner of independent jewelry store Billig Jewelers in Marlton, N.J., tells JCK. “You can wear it by itself or stack it with other jewelry items. Both of my nieces are in health care, so we wanted to do something for them.”
The bracelet has been sold almost exclusively online (Billig Jewelers’ IG feed has been promoting it, and the bracelet also has its own Instagram page, @rainbowforhope). Now Billig is reaching out to other retailers to wholesale the design, and reports that the response from retailers “has been overwhelming. We have at least eight retailers signed up that are ready to go.”
Retailers looking to stock the bracelet should reach out to Billig and his team at info@rainbowforhope.com. Every retail partner gets its own custom-branded website for the bracelet, at no cost. “All they have to do is promote the product on their social media platform,” Billig explains. “We stock and ship the product for them. It’s a no-brainer.”
Photos: The Rainbow for Hope bracelet (courtesy of Billig Jewelers)
Follow me on Instagram: @emilivesilind
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine