The word lanyard comes from the french word “laniere” which means thong or strap. They were first used by french soldiers in the 15th-16th century to keep weapons easily accessible while in combat.
They were also used by sailors. Lanyards kept their knives safe while climbing the boat, often in bad weather, in addition to keeping their hands free. They didn’t look anything like the lanyards we know today as they were made of rope or straps that were found laying around.
Lanyards are still functional but have become more decorative. In modern-day lanyards have a decorative function on the military uniform and are worn on the shoulder to show ranks and rewards received by the officer.
Outside the military lanyards are used for corporate branding, safety and giveaways. They can hold id cards, mobiles, whistles etc but are also perfect for brand awareness and marketing showing logos and company names on the strap.
In 2017 lanyards even appeared as a fashion statement being shown on several catwalks including Chanel and Alexander Wang.
Now that you know a little bit about the history of the lanyards, it is time to choose your own timeless design. Lanyard Factory has a large selection of lanyards and they can all be made with different upgrades like ID card holders, key rings, clips, hooks, bottle openers and more.