This Tiny Object Holds a Big Surprise

The bohemian aesthetic of the late 1960s and early 1970s is instantly recognizable by its signature elements of bell bottom jeans, fringe jackets, and feathered hairstyles. A staple of this era’s bohemian look was the leather braid wrap. More than a hairstyle finisher, it was a means of self-expression and individuality.

Music festivals, state fairs and roadside trading posts showcased them on countless young women sporting braids. They offered an element of handcrafted beauty that other hair accessories lacked.

A Handmade Staple of the 1970s and 1980s

Handmade leather braid wraps achieved widespread popularity in the 1970s during the boom of hippie and Western fashion trends. Typically, they were created at craft fairs, Native American trading posts and small leather goods stores.

Floral and Southwestern designs were typical of the tooled or painted leather flat or tubular pieces. Each of them would be secured with leather cords which would be tied and then finished with either wooden beads or metal conchos. Not only did they serve as a decorative detail for the braid, but they also served as a mechanism to secure the braid in place.

Although they continued to exist through the 1990s, their popularity declined dramatically. This happened as modern hair accessories became increasingly popular.