Tassel and Pom-Pom Jewelry

They're sprightly and sassy, elegant and chic, exotic and all-American. They're on purses and shoes and headbands and belts and jewelry, of course.

Lots of jewelry. 

Not just a trend—pom-poms and tassels are style movements that just keep evolving. From historical military ornamentation and home décor to Hollywood red carpets and modern street fashion, these versatile classics get a fresh twist every season. Materials and details change as designers experiment with new variations for their jewelry and fashion lines.

Materials for pom-poms and tassels vary. Some designers use only stringing materials such as chain, thread, cord and beading wire. Some artists build them entirely from strung seed beads, pearls and gemstone beads. And some jewelry makers combine multiple types together for the mixed visual textures, colors and movement.

Here are a range of possibilities for pom-pom and tassel jewelry to whet your design appetite:

Fiber

Bright and bold, fiber tassels are a popular, lightweight addition to jewelry and accessories. Available in silk, cotton and polyester, they add a bohemian touch to style, with color and movement. Jewelry makers can create their own pom-poms using Clover pom-pom makers and tassels using the Beadalon® tassel maker, for beautiful and consistent results.

Leather

For a little more heft and swing, tassels made with leather, leatherette and faux suede are common on accessories usually also made of leather: purses, shoes and belts. Pom-poms made of leather can be a popular fixture on shoes and bags.

These heavier versions are often accented around the base, ringed with seed beads, embellished with sparkling rhinestones, made using different colors or textures of leather and more. These types of tassels and pom-poms are often detachable, too—clip them on for more panache or remove them for a more streamlined look. 

Medium-sized leather tassels showed up on purses at Tod's and Dsquared2, while longer leather tassels fluttered on both jewelry and purses at Tory Burch.

Beads

Beaded tassel jewelry can be made with a few common components. Seed beads are queen when it comes to beaded tassels and pom-poms. Because of their small size, it's easy to blend, mix and layer an array of colors in a single design, seed beads can give jewelry makers more creative options than larger beads. Feeling especially creative? Braid a pair of kumihimo tassels with coordinating seed beads for a fun texture and unique look.

Part of the "barely there" trend, tiny strings of seed beads under a cap (or a cluster of seed beads in a burst) are a way to add color with more heft than leather and less than metal. Using silver-lined seed beads brings a little shimmer, too. Tiny gemstone beads and pearls, if they're similar in size and shape to seed beads, are a fully upscale version.

Metal

The classic chain tassel's making a comeback, too—only now with additional sparkle. It's not a popular material for pom-pom making, sadly.

The metal tassel is where the variety is really at: 

• Some chain tassels are getting charms added to the end of one or two longer chains in the bunch
  
  
• Mixing metals (gold with silver, bronze, copper or gunmetal) as well as finishes (shiny with matte or antiqued)
  
  
• Mixing chain types (curb, figaro, ball and snake chain in one tassel) as well as adding sparkle with diamond-cut styles or lengths of cupchain

Tassel designs can be created easily with chain and jump rings or purchased ready-to-use, and the style works for both glamorous and casual dress. Try mixing chain with silk or nylon cord in the same tassel, using different shades for an ombré effect, or trimming your strands at different lengths for a layered or tiered look.

Tassels and pom-poms offer a world of possibilities whether you're into the boho-artisan look, the "barely there" trend or the timeless elegance of gemstones,. The variety of materials and methods—as well as a range of uses—mean these styles can work for any wardrobe. So, let your creativity flow and captivate your customers with lively movements and stunning sparkle!