Handmade Bombangle – Hippy Bracelet – Large

Handmade Bombangle

Now these bracelets have a story to tell.
Believe it or not, these bracelets are made from aluminium which has been salvaged from deactivated unexploded bombs.
These wonderful hippy bracelets are all handmade in Laos South East Asia and are made by families who go out themselves and salvage the aluminium.

The bombs were dropped during ‘the secret war’, which took place between 1964 and 1973. Whilst fighting the Vietnam war, the United States of America carpet bombed the small neighbouring country of Laos.

Laos was given the title of the most bombed country in the world due to the fact that 9 tonnes of cluster bombs were dropped on them every 8 minutes for 9 years. Unbelievable or what! Those amounts and time frames led to approx 270 million cluster bombs to be dropped. Of these millions, 80 million failed to detonate leaving deadly surprises all around.

The affected areas are being cleared of UXO (unexploded ordinance) by the British charity MAG and local charity UXO Laos.
Many lives have been taken maimed due to people trying to harvest the bombs for their valuable metals which is why the charities have got involved. The charities aims to help, enable them to cheaply purchase responsibly deactivated UXO from approved scrap yards.

Bombangles® are fairly traded with each bangle being purchased at five times the local market value.

A perfect gift for people who like unique handmade jewellery.

Made in Laos
100% Aluminium

Size Large
Will fit wrists up to 10in

These items are handmade so may vary slightly.