Driven by a Y2K fashion nostalgia, a recent rise in bedazzling has taken trend around the internet, attracting every teenage girl with free time. What originally started in the late 1970s and eventually resurged in the early 2000s, bedazzling has once again glued itself onto the hands of another generation.
Bedazzling, a decorative process in which you glue rhinestones, glitter, or sequins onto everyday items, has grown into both a hobby and therapeutic activity for a lot of individuals.
Items such as phone cases, handbags, chargers, retainer cases, makeup/skincare bottles, and generally anything that has a flat surface are what these bedazzlers are crafting with.
Because it is so tedious and detailed, it can be time consuming, even taking hours or days to complete. However, for many people, that slow process is just what makes it enjoyable. In a modern world that is centered around fast trends and doom scrolling, bedazzling gives people a creative outlet that is relaxing and hands-on.
Alongside its calming and creative environment, bedazzling can also have positive mental and physical effects.
“The essence of doing crafts, as opposed to more regulated forms of manual work, is that it demands both physical and cognitive work by the maker…Man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health,” said the National Library of Medicine.
Social media platforms such as TikTok and Pinterest have promoted these positives, and contributed to the trend’s resurgence. Many creators have posted the benefits, as well as tutorials, customization ideas, and finished designs online. This rise in DIY activities, especially for personalized accessories or clothing, has also made bedazzling more appealing to teenagers looking to craft.
Now beyond fashion, bedazzling is not limited to certain objects and can also be used for other items more personal and unconventional.
For instance, items like inhalers, pill bottles, mobility aids, and medical devices have been included in this shiny revival technique. For many individuals, decorating these objects can make them feel less clinical or intimidating, turning something linked with stress or insecurity into something more fun and warm.
“At first I was just decorating random things, but after I did my inhalers and allergy medicine bottles, it weirdly made having to use them feel less annoying and task-oriented,” said Leisha Manchanda (11).
With tutorials, inspiration videos, and beginner supply kits becoming widely available everywhere – getting started with bedazzling has become easier than ever.
As for how to get started? The answer is fairly simple.
Beginner bedazzling kits can be found on Amazon, Michaels, or most craft stores, each usually including everything needed to start. Supplies may consist of wax pickup tools, tweezers, GemTac or E6000 glue, and of course rhinestones, glitter, gems, and sequins.
After getting the supplies, creators can bedazzle almost anything, from clothing and handbags, to different bottles and knick-knacks.
As this sparkling trend continues to spread across social media and craft stores, more people within today’s generation are turning ordinary everyday items into something more personal, creative, and completely their own.
