France Bridal Wedding Fashion 2014 Bangles Bracelet Collection 140

France Bridal Wedding Fashion 2014 Bangles Bracelet Collection.  

By Samina Aamir 

While there are many theories surrounding t

 he orijin of manillas, it is known that it was worn by women along the West African coast as a symbol of their husband’s wealth. The horseshoe shaped bracelet or ‘bangels’ are often decorated with balls on each end. In its inception, these bracelets/’bangles’ were predominantly made from copper as it was the “red gold” of Africa. Noticing the importance of this piece of jewellery to West African, Portuguese merchants began to produce these pieces as a means of currency.