From Duchess of Cambridge to David Beckham, celebrities and royalty wear loom bands too

The colourful rubber bracelets have gained celebrity endorsers

Duchess of Cambridge wears loom bracelets during her New Zealand tour (AP)

The children’s bracelets crafted out of rubber bands have taken the world, both kids and adults, by storm. The latest fad to sweep schools, also climbed up into the celebrity status.

David Beckham, One Direction’s Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Duchess of Cornwall, and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been spotted wearing loom bands. The British royalty was snapped with their colourful wrists during social engagements this year - it’s thought that Kate was gifted the rubber charms by young girls during her spring tour of New Zealand, and although it’s unknown where they come from, Prince William’s colourful wristband could also be seen peeping out of his suit jacket.

The bracelets are made of colourful elastic bands and it’s estimated that more than four million loom band kits have been sold around the world. Each kit includes the plastic loom, crocket hook and bands, and each pack of 1,800 bands can be bought for as little as £1.99.

They can also be used to create necklaces, bags and some creative minds have made ties, bikinis, Barbie doll clothes, and even a girl’s dress, which got bids of over £170,000 on eBay.

As with clothing, the so called “Kate effect” had an impact on the sales of the rubber bands in the UK. Hobbycraft reported a 331 per cent profit increase since she was photographed wearing a blue-and-pink band.

The phenomenon has clearly spread around the world and enchanted all generations, and with such celebrity endorsers the frenzy is thought to stay for a while.

What are loom bands?