Lanyards are a ubiquitous phenomenon of modern life and are used in both personal and professional capacities. They are widely used in the corporate world as well as in military, sports, media, and other fields. Many people, however, are not aware of the historical roots of lanyards where some think that it is a recent, corporate invention.
The origin of lanyards is from ancient hunting cultures, where hunters used to carry trophies by tying a rope around their neck or shoulders. These were made from sinew, or catgut so as to allow the hunters to carry their marks proudly.
Thousands of years later, sailors were quick to modify the rope and they started using it for carrying whistles, purses and valuables around the ship. Ships trousers didn’t have pockets in them to “prevent idleness” so the lanyard was the only method of carrying personal objects.
The neck was generally considered the best place for tying the lanyard around, followed by waist and neck. They quickly became a part and parcel of the navy, then the merchant shipping industry, with almost every other ship worker using them to move their valuables around. They were, at this time, still absent from civilian life.
It was not until the 20th century when lanyards made forays into lives of ordinary people. Policemen also started wearing them, especially those controlling traffic, where they attached a whistle to a lanyard made of string or leather. Sports coaches adopted the trend where they replaced the leather strings with nylon and other fabrics.
Army drill sergeants grabbed on this for their own whistles, making lanyards an integral part of their uniform. This was the start of the lanyard culture that has now taken deep roots in corporate life. Lanyards have now become commonplace in the business world and are used in almost every company across the world.
Lanyards are now most commonly used as an identification tool where employees can fasten their identify cards onto them. A simple mechanism is available to attach identity cards to the lanyard thus making it easier for people to use them.
Many companies have now started offering customized lanyard where they emboss a company name or logo onto it. This makes it easier for them to identify employees and securing their premises.
Security is the prime reason lanyards are used so much nowadays. Securing your data, property and people is a prime concern for businesses anywhere. The ID card, on a rope around the neck is the ideal first move in securing your organization from external threats.
Lanyards are now made of a diverse range of materials, from leather to polyester fibers. The growing popularity of lanyards has also encouraged designers to use them as part of couture. Lanyards with shapes reminiscent of lockets are also becoming popular in people eager to adopt the latest fashion trends. Lanyards are expected to evolve over the years and decades with many new designs, fabrics, and shapes incorporated into them.