What colorful rubber jewelry became a massive fad among children and teenagers in the 2010s?

The 2010s saw a vibrant crafting craze sweep through playgrounds and homes, captivating children and teenagers with its simple yet ingenious design. This phenomenon centered around a plastic loom and countless small, colorful rubber bands, allowing enthusiasts to weave intricate bracelets, rings, and even charms. The appeal lay in its accessibility, encouraging creativity and fine motor skills as users followed patterns or invented their own designs.

The ingenious device, known as Rainbow Loom, was invented by Cheong Choon Ng, a Malaysian immigrant and mechanical engineer working for Nissan. He conceived the idea in 2010 after observing his daughters making rubber band jewelry by hand and finding his own fingers too large to comfortably join in. Ng developed a prototype using a wooden board and pushpins, which evolved into the plastic pegboard and hook system that became a global sensation.

Initially, Ng faced challenges marketing his invention, as stores didn't grasp its potential. However, instructional videos featuring his daughters demonstrating how to use the loom quickly went viral online, sparking immense interest and driving sales. By 2013, the Rainbow Loom was a top-selling toy, becoming the most searched toy on Google and YouTube that year, with millions of kits and rubber bands sold worldwide. Its widespread popularity even saw celebrities sporting the colorful creations, further cementing its status as a defining fad of the decade.