Taylor Swift Shows Spark Beading Bonanza and Big Sales for Crafting Retailers

Taylor Swift’s upcoming concerts are inspiring a beading craze among fans, who are spending hundreds—sometimes thousands—on supplies to create Swift-inspired friendship bracelets to trade at her shows. Fans like Mikaela St Louis, a nurse from Campbell River, B.C., have spent over $1,000 on beads and charms. The trend, attributed to Swift's song lyrics about "making friendship bracelets," has significantly boosted sales for retailers. Craft chain Michaels reports a 300% spike in bead sales leading up to Swift’s concert dates, while Walmart Canada’s bracelet kit sales have risen 250%.

Demand is so high that stores often sell out of essentials, especially charms and letter beads tied to Swift's name, as fans prepare to gather in Vancouver and Toronto. Beyond Swift’s concerts, friendship bracelets have become popular among fans of other celebrities and are traded at various live events, from sports games to other music shows. This ongoing demand has helped stores like Indigo, which reported a sharp rise in sales of stickers and charms, items fans often pair with bracelets. St Louis and others see the trend as a celebration of kindness and creativity, sparking connections that extend beyond the concert arena.