Traditionally, the lanyard (or laniard as they are also refered to) was utilised by pirates hundreds of years ago to carry posessions aboard their vessels. A common type is the neck strap variety worn around the neck, sometimes they were attached to a sword or used in conjuction with a hook to fire the ships cannons.
Pistol holder lanyards are also used by police and various military organisations, the pistol grip is connected to uniform on a semi-permanent basis, however the item usually remains attached to the strap length. A Quality strap can make a major difference in certain situations or emergency. These lanyard cords are designed with this in mind and are manufactured to not snag or get caught on objects.
Fact: did you know lanyards are also worn on the shoulders of British and Commonwealth military uniforms, this is to denote the wearer’s rank, qualification or regiment. In the past before radio communication the wearer would sport a lanyard and regiment on his left shoulder enabling him to pull a whistle from his left tunic pocket and commicate with other unit members.
At present, simple neck cords manufactured from fabric with a clip attached to the end are used frequently in retail business situations for badge carrying, ID and especially advertising. Public places such as pools and aquatic centres require these items for keys and other items that can not afford to be lost.
Electronic devices are also another example of the usability of lanyards, camera’s usb thumb drives and other high tech gadgets are all being manufactured with small loop holes attached making it easier for cords to be attached to prevent loss or damage, camera straps are also another form of this item being used every day by millions of people.
Wrist straps, the short alternative to badge, key and electronic carriage.
the wrist strap is also another highly popular lanyard type, the nintendo wii comes with a packaged wrist strap lanyard to be worn, because the wii controller is being swung around and thrown a lot the wrist strap ensures against breakage.
With economic climate and exchange rates looking grim many promotional organisations are forced to raise prices in an effort to compensate for the current downturn.
Many promotional firms import their product lines from offshore third party suppliers, meaning the fall of the Australian dollar will put massive strain on our own promotional market. Considering in recent months the promo industry has become so competitive with many organisations offering price beat and ultra low prices, the fall of the dollar from 98 us cents to 65 is having a major impact cutting profits by a third! with many firms choosing to close doors until the economy stabilises again.
Other longer running organisations are raising their prices to compensate and prepare for the un certain road ahead.
New lanyard companies starting out will be the hardest hit as opposed to larger running groups with the financial means and capital to continue advertising, marketting and company development.
Bamboo lanyards are the latest trend in the lanyard industry!
Bamboo plant is referred to as “the plant of a thousand uses.” Bamboo is indeed one of the wonder plants for the 21st century. The growth of the bamboo plant is extremely fast and mature stems are harvested only when new stems have begun to grow. Even if harvested continuously, this plant does not harm the surrounding environment. Moreover, the plant is pesticide free. Bamboo fibre is biodegradable and is priced lower than other natural fibres, such as cotton and silk, which require heavy pesticides for their growth. Bamboo fibre is increasingly being used to manufacture lanyards because of the various benefits the fibre offers.
The uniqueness of the bamboo fibre
Bamboo fibre is green, natural and eco-friendly. It offers some distinct advantages over other fibres:
Unlike synthetic fibres, bamboo fibre is biodegradable. There are synthetic fibres that are produced from non-renewable petroleum and can discharge toxic gases when incinerated.
- Bamboo has anti-ultraviolet properties.
- The fabric is cool and breathes well.
- Bamboo fibre, when used in clothing, does not stick to the skin, not even in the heat. No wonder it is called the “air-conditioning dress.”
- Bamboo comprises an anti-bacteria and bacteriostatic bio-agent, called “bamboo kun.” This agent stops any bacteria from growing and inhibits body odour. The bacteriostatic property of this agent aids in the prevention of the growth of fungus and yeast.
- Bamboo fabrics are extremely soft and comfortable and have a silky feel. They are also durable.
- Bamboo fibre is particularly suited for people with sensitive skin.
- The use of bamboo fibre is good for the environment, since its production does not need pesticides or fertilizers, unlike cotton that needs lot of pesticides to grow.
The use of bamboo fibre in lanyards Nowadays, bamboo fibre is being increasingly used for producing lanyards. The material is both bio-degradable and sustainable. Bamboo fibre is also well suited for complicated logo reproductions. While as a standard it comes unbleached, which is definitely more eco-friendly, the fibre can be pantone dyed if needed. Bamboo fibre lanyards are, therefore, an excellent option if you believe in using an environmentally friendly product for your lanyard requirements. It will help you create a style statement and at the same time help you to contribute in some way towards protecting the environment.
Lanyards are indeed a very versatile item, however what happens when you purchase low quality lanyards that are unconfortable, havn’t been printed properly and don’t last as long as the genuine article.
In this document the differences will be broken down and explained so you know all the points to look for when purchasing your lanyards from manufacturer, supplier or promotional firm.
Repeat print lanyards
Offshore factories churning out bulk produced lanyards at low monetary cost are the main offenders of repeat printing, print is placed on a stamp type roller and ran along an entire roll of material (polyester, nylon, satin, or microfibre) the method is usually not accurate along the length and has been known to rub off.
Stitching go’s through the print and your logo can be cut off at the edge of the material, the logo also carries on through the clips and loops of the lanyard.
This looks un professional and cheap.
Screen printed lanyards
For a fraction extra in costs screen printed lanyards are a far superior product.
The lanyard material length is cut to 900mm (many manufacturers standard length) while the layout and print is created into a silk screen like frame and placed over the pre-cut lanyard length, always bearing in mind where the clips and fittings safety breaks are etc. The lanyard is printed in ink which is set into the material to prevent fading or flaking.
The print is specially placed and lines up perfectly with all fittings, and is dead straight down the center of the lanyard length.
This is percieved as a far superior product to the reciever.
Caution! sharp edges
Material edges are another item often overlooked by suppliers.
The edge of a lanyard must be smooth and non abbrasive otherwise the wearers neck will become irritated, no doubt sending your lanyards to the bin! if the material is too thick or thin the lanyard edge will be rough.
A quality material edge will show small weaves of soft yet staggered material designed to be less abbrasive to the recipient.
Crimp or stitch
Many 20mm lanyards are crimped this is not the best way to attach the lanyard to clip or fitting.
A higher quality lanyard is stitched and then heat treated at the ends to prevent fraying edges, the stitch is strong and means your logo does not get caught in the crimp, some crimps of low quality can slowly split and cause harm to the wearer.
Bear these things in mind when purchasing your wholesale lanyards