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As people begin to finally venture outside their homes and head back to the office, accessories that were cast aside during the pandemic (in other words, anything beyond the range of a web cam) are making their triumphant return. Something that's on the mind of Pinterest users in particular? Clay rings. According to a recent report from the visual platform, searches for clay rings have increased 303x from last year. Made from polymer, resin and — you guessed it — clay, clay rings are chunky, bright, and basically a total embodiment of the bold, maximalist style that is taking the fashion world by storm for summer 2021.
Aside from its contemporary popularity among crafters, polymer clay has an interesting backstory that dates back to the 1930s. To sum it up, when a German doll maker was unable to source her usual supplies due to political upheaval, she invented the substance out of necessity, using it to continue her work. In case you're wondering, polymer clay can still be used to make dolls, but, TBH, we're much more interested in its fashion potential.
While DIYers out there will be happy to learn that you can make these rings yourself, the less crafty among us can take comfort in shopping the many options available online. Etsy, in particular, has a plethora of unique, handmade rings available for shoppers looking to add a pop of colour to their warm-weather wardrobes. Keep scrolling to shop the clay rings we're eyeing for summer and beyond.