BRACELETS FOR "COMFORT WOMEN"
Written By: Cathy Chuang
There can be many ways to show support for former “Comfort Women”, such as being informed or donating to their cause. One such way to raise awareness, while doing so fashionably, is wearing a bracelet in support of them. This trend is one that is gradually being picked in South Korea. There are many different organizations and groups that have chosen this format to support “Comfort Women,” a notable one of which is Heeum, or the Blooming Project.
The Blooming Project
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Source: Unknown
The Blooming Project is a project that was created by South Korean high school students in an effort to raise awareness for the issue of “Comfort Women.” Tired of this issue being long ignored, they took matters into their own hands. In order to start informing the public, they opted to create silicone bracelets of many colours, with the words “Blooming their hopes with you” printed on them. This cute yet meaningful accessory quickly took off, with K-pop idols and trainees joining in.
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Source: http://www.thegranitetower.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=645
Thanks to the extensive airtime coverage idols have given these bracelets, the Blooming Project has taken off! With it come more advocates, and informed youth on this issue.
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Find more information at:
http://hope4comfortwomen.weebly.com/
http://jshighschool.blogspot.ca/2014/01/blooming-their-hopes-with-you.html
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Other Bracelets
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Of course, the Blooming Project isn’t the only group out there creating bracelets like these.
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This fashionable bracelet is one that has commonly made its appearance on the wrists of Produce 101 contestants and current idols. Unfortunately, we have yet to pin down the creator of this bracelet (If you know who it is, send us the answer!).
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Source: https://twitter.com/unnaturallyugly/status/769333158575759360
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A notable symbol on the bracelet is the butterfly. For “Comfort Women,” the butterfly symbolises the ordeals the victims underwent, and their determination to be arbiters of peace. More importantly, the butterfly’s ability to fly symbolises the “rite of passage” former “Comfort Women” undergo “to regain their dignity and freedom from discrimination, violence, and oppression by bettering themselves to overcome their past trauma and conflicts” (http://www.comfort-women.org/publications.html).
Another company that incorporates fashion into raising awareness is Marymond. They sell clothing and phone cases to raise awareness and funds for the “Comfort Woman” cause. Check them out at http://en.marymond.com/!
