Silly Bandz: Banned or Brilliant?

There is a very silly crazy dominating the wrists of both adults and kids everywhere this summer. The craze is called Silly Bandz and, not unlike snap bracelets or jelly bracelets, they've popped up all over the country thanks to word of mouth and no advertising. The bracelets have now adorned your local kindergartner and the wrists of fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker--even though they are simply just glorified rubber bands.

The Silly Bandz are sold in brightly colored packs and come in the shapes of animals, cars, shoes, lips, and more. The suggested retail price per pack is $4.95, making them an attractive fad to cost-conscious parents.

The bracelets have become controversial in schools being banned at many at the end of this school year. Teachers called them a distraction. Kids have shown up in nurses offices with rashes, or wearing up to 40 bands on one wrist, causing circulation issues. Check out this Mom's commentary on the newly banned bands. When you consider some of the crazy video games our kids play, the bans do indeed seem a bit silly.

But, like the hula hoop, or the snap bracelet, for right now at least, it seems this trend cannot be stopped.. "Kids love to trade them, and they love the bright colors," says Florida teacher Angie Weber.

Silly Bandz parent company, BCP Imports, hasn't reported sales numbers, but things are good. Last year they went from 20 employees to 200, and in May they added 22 phone lines to keep up with inquiries. And stores like Walgreens and Hallmark can't keep them on the shelves. There's even talk of a Silly Bandz float this year for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

What do you think of fashion fads like Silly Bandz? Flash in a pan, or genius, cheap, hot-selling invention? For more fashion deals follow me @CoupieSavings on Twitter.