Say what you will, but Facebook’s “relationship status” tab can be a handy tool. It’s a painless way to clear up uncomfortable ambiguities, and also to let people know you’re back in the dating game. Now you can subtly signify your availability offline, too. Inspired by their own serendipitous meeting, Danish-British couple and entrepreneurs Rina Mardahl and Rob Young are launching a line of silicone wristbands designed for single people to wear in order to self-identify.
Available in seven colors and three sizes to match any outfit and any wrist, MY Single Bands (named for the first initials of the couple’s last names) are intended to be discrete but identifiable. From a distance, it looks just like any other silicone wristband, allowing the wearer to remain “slightly anonymous despite being recognizable to other singles,” the website claims. Of course, “slightly anonymous” is open to interpretation — after all, who wears silicone wristbands anymore?
Maradahl and Young told the Daily Mail that they are confident the wristbands will “increase new encounters, lower the fear of first introductions, and suit busy modern lifestyles.” They also lamented “how many people must miss out on meeting their soul mate by not saying the first hi.” Appropriately, the bracelets are embossed with the words fate, future, or destiny (your choice).
The couple plans to launch the bands in Europe and the U.S. in the next few weeks, and looks forward to a revolution wherein singles bands gain the ubiquity of wedding rings. Though their photo campaign makes the bracelets look almost chic, the $9 price tag ($15 for two) seems a bit steep. Luckily, if you really want one of these, it’s easy and affordable to DIY.
