Wristbands are encircling strips worn on the wrist, made of any of a variety of materials depending on the purpose. The term can be used to refer to the bracelet-like band of a wristwatch, to the cuff or other part of a sleeve that covers the wrist, or to decorative or functional bands worn on the wrist for other reasons, such as lanyards.
One type of wristband is also known as a sweatband, and is usually made of a towel-like terrycloth material. These are usually used to wipe sweat from the forehead during sport, or as a badge or fashion statement. A practice common in mid-eighties punk subculture was to cut the top off of a sock and fashion the elastic into this type of wristband.
Another common type of wristband is the loops of plastic or tyvek that are placed around the wrist for identification purposes (demonstrating the wearer’s authorization to be at a venue, for example).
