Loom bands
Loom band festival in Cwmbran
Are you going to Loombran?

Do your kids love loom bands? Cwmbran Shopping is hosting the UK’s first loom band mini festival tomorrow.

Sixty-thousand of the small coloured rubber bands will be given away at ‘Loombran’ from 10am to 4pm. Staff will pass on tips and tricks alongside activities like face painting.

Children use looms or their own fingers to twist the small coloured rubber bands into bracelets, necklaces and charms, with more advanced crafters creating products such as animals, cartoon characters and even items of clothing.

‘Loombran’ will be a chance for children to pick up free bands and try their hand at new techniques for weaving rubber jewellery creations. Families are being encouraged to bring their own loom bands along to the event as it is hoped the day will inspire many new loom band creations, with children swapping pattern ideas. Children can also meet costume characters Mr Loom and Mrs Bran.

Loom bands

Paul Rich, Cwmbran Shopping Centre Manager, said: “Loom bands are a brilliant children’s toy and we are proud to host the country’s first loom band mini festival. Although they are inexpensive and relatively simple, they encourage creativity, teamwork and build on children’s problem-solving skills. In the age of social media and tablets, we think it’s great to see such an old-fashioned craze that everyone can enjoy. We think loom bands are up there with marbles, yo-yos and hula-hoops as a toy that really captures the imagination of children.

“Saturday will be fun for all of the family and we encourage everyone to bring their family along early as the free loom bands will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis.”

For further information see Cwmbran Shopping’s Facebook page.

Five Loom band facts
· Rainbow Looms were invented in 2010 by Cheong Choon Ng and his his first prototype, which he called Twistz Bandz, used a wooden board, pushpins, and dental hooks
· Over 3.5 million looms have been sold worldwide
· All 30 of the best-selling toys on Amazon are either looms or loom-related
· Multicoloured bands sell for as little as £1.80 for 1,800 bands so that would be 10 for 1p
· Loom bands have been seen on the arms of the Duchess of Cambridge, Fearne Cotton, David Beckham and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall

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