Beads
Bead culture is a central part of Ghanaian history and belief. The record of bead usage is fascinating. They could be used to signify royalty; they were believed to have magical and medicinal powers; they were used by priests in voodoo rituals.
From as early as the fifteenth century glass beads were imported from Italy to adorn Chiefs and Queens and used in ceremonies which marked a rite of passage.
More recently, Ghana has begun to export locally made beads to Italy as a means of boosting the economy. Now, in the current Ghanaian society, beads are used as fashion accessories by both men and women. The use of beads in courtship rituals over past centuries has evolved into their use as a fashionable item, worn with the intention of attracting the opposite sex.
A common way for women to wear beads is around their waists, hidden beneath their clothes. These beads represent a close bond between couples, since only the man has the chance to view his partner's beads. A friend of mine tells me how her partner has bought her three strings of beads to wear, and argues with her if she forgets to use them.
He finds it attractive to see his girlfriend wearing beads around her waist, while she enjoys wearing them because she feels that they flatter her figure. She adds that the beads help her to check her weight. According to her, if she has put on weight they (beads) will be very tight around her waist. On the other hand, if she loses weight they will become loose - and in both ways, she might not feel comfortably.
In turn, Lennox, a colleague of mine, explained to me why men find beads around the waist attractive: "They catch your eyes", he told me. "They make a man take notice of a woman and draw attention to a woman's hips and bottom, which are the most favourite parts of the female body for many men". He added, "I like bright colours, but it is important for the beads to suit a woman's complexion. When a woman wears beads which suit her, it is very attractive".
Another friend of mine told me that she wears beads around her waist for her own pleasure, rather than to impress a partner. She explained that they make her feel attractive, and that she could not go out without them. It seems women will often wear beads - and they can be worn in several ways: around the waist, as a necklace, bracelet or anklet - as a fashion accessory to make themselves feel good, without the intention of attracting any men. Indulging in fashionable items is a female's pleasure, and a way for a woman to reward herself and feel confident.
Similarly, some men enjoy wearing beads on their wrists or around their necks because they feel they compliment their outfit, or add a certain status to their appearance, based on the association of beads with royalty. Beads are not only worn to grab the attention of the opposite sex, but also for an individual's own enjoyment.
As the diversity of Ghanaian culture keeps advancing, and with the influence of Western fashion, beads seem to have lost some of their appeal, and many young Ghanaians are seen wearing metal chains and other jewellery instead.
However, a preference for beads was strongly expressed among many of the women that I spoke to. Their (beads') simplicity, and the range of sizes and colours purchasable, make them easy to wear. They remain popular among women looking for versatile fashion accessories which can be worn with many outfits.
And alongside the enjoyment of indulging in the latest fashions, women can use beads to privately attract and impress a partner. I cannot see beads going out of fashion anytime soon!
USES OF BEADS
In the common and existing phenomenon, one can see a wide range of uses of bead. Although beads have been widely used at a large scale for the production of ornaments and decorative items. In addition to this, beads also serve numerous other purposes. In a broad spectrum of beads that are available in market, the uses of bead can be classified on the basis of its regular & elegant and Irregular and rare use.
Mentioned below are some of the regular & elegant uses of beads :-
- In Jewelries,
- Flys for Fishing,
- To Adorn Dolls,
- Tassels,
- To Decorate Frames,
- Meditation Beads,
- To Decorate Purses,
- To Decorate Greeting Cards etc.
Irregular and rare uses of beads are mentioned below.
- Wine Identifiers,
- To put Fringe on Purses,
- To Sew on Quilts,
- To hang on Fan Chains,
- To put on ends of Curtain Rods,
- On Spines of Handmade Books,
- Fringe on Scarves,
- A Customized Rosary,
- To Hang on Draperies,
- Game Pieces and many more.
Furthermore, beads have been also used in paintings. Since pre-historic era, primarily, beads have been widely used in the jewelry manufacturing. There exists a wide variety of Beaded Jewelry such as Beaded Anklets, Beaded Bangles, Beaded Bracelet, Beaded Chains, Beaded Chokers, Beaded Earrings in the market. Apart from the aforesaid beaded jewelries, bead is widely used in the handicrafts manufacturing. Beaded handicrafts come in an assortment of in-vogue styles and can easily be searchable on enormous designs and patterns.
Beads have been widely strung closely in order to form a necklace or a rosary. Moreover, a string of bead has immensely used for counting prayers. The derivation of the word "bead" lies in an old Germanic word conveying the idea of "to pray." In the primitive England, most of the general people was used their rosaries to count the beads or can say prayers. Due to such practice, a wide range of individual stones have been called the beads.
Types of Beads
If you love wearing elegant jewelry, you can choose glamorous type of beads for your jewelry making project and if you love simple accessories, then it is always a good idea to choose simple type of beads. But, before you start, it is important for you to decide what you are going to create with the beads. Are you looking to make a necklace, an anklet, a cheap bracelet or all of them to create a beautiful handmade jewelry set
Once you have considered what you want to make, it is time to look at the different types of beads that you can use in your wholesale jewelry making project.
Pearls beads - are quite popular because they resemble natural pearls. Natural pearls are quite expensive, but these factory made pearl beads are not. Although they don't match the shine and luster of natural pearls, they are really beautiful and add a touch of elegance to any kind of jewelry.
Glass beads - are available in many different styles, sizes, designs and colors. They usually have colorful coatings and handmade designs on them. Most of the glass beads available today come from India and Czech Republic.
Crystal Beads - are quite popular because they give sparkle and glam finish to any piece of jewelry. Crystal beads are slightly expensive than regular beads because of their gorgeous look and extremely high demand. If you are considering using crystal beads in your creations, make sure you purchase them from a reputable seller. This is because there are a number of people who claim to sell genuine crystal beads, but what they are actually selling is cheap imitations of these crystal beads. Seed beads - are available in various sizes and the majority of these beads come from Japan and Taiwan. Plastic Beads - these are very cheap and can be used in all types of jewelry making projects. These beads are mostly suitable for kid's jewelry, but they can also be used to create jewelry pieces such as necklaces for adults.