The red string bracelets are probably one of Xiao Zhan's most iconic trademark to date. In an era of fast fashion and luxury rentals in a saturated entertainment industry that produces numerous celebrities and idols per year, a lone actor that managed to unintentionally establish a trademark for himself is already remarkable.
But before we dive into his story, what exactly are these bracelets anyway?
For a start, the custom of wearing the red string bracelets actually dates back to thousands of years ago, accross different cultures, beliefs and regions. Hence at present time, once you start digging into its history, you'll discover that there's already a lot of symbolism behind what's supposedly - at first impression - an unremarkable accessory. For the Chinese in particular, red strings depict a connection between individuals like loved ones, friends or family. In Feng Shui, red string bracelets promote good luck and fortune to its wearer, and in general, they offer some sort of protection against evil.
For a simple bracelet to be associated with these positive symbolisms, it's not difficult to understand why it tends to be a popular gift item. Which is how Xiao Zhan managed to receive his. When fans noticed him wearing them during a show, Xiao Zhan explained how his mother gave him the red string bracelets as a present. Since then, it has became one of those "Idol trivia 101" that's being casually passed around inside the fandom for years.
As of this writing, it has became a fandom staple. So naturally, I did my own share in contributing to that fact, I bought a handful of red string bracelets straight from China last year. I had an extra one for a spare while another one for my mother (since she's a staunch believer of Feng Shui). Each one came in with it own set of free Xiao Zhan photocards and a bunny pin. One thing for sure, Chinese merchants know their customers well.
Anyway, the one bracelet I received and became a daily accessory held well enough for months, but sadly unraveled itself last week. I looked all over the house for some candles to fix it up. Eventually I managed to find a dusty one, lit it and slowly burned the edges of my string bracelet to lock it in place. You could still see the soot from the photo I provided.
So why not just throw it away and use the spare one? This bracelet for me is both a symbol of protection against evil and a reminder how Xiao Zhan persevered through storms (plural because he lives life in hard mode by default) and still end up standing with a bright smile for his fans. As corny as it is, I will treasure it and wouldn't give up on it.
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