Perhaps it was inspired by the simple hospital bracelet—which some young people sported long after their healthcare stay. Or maybe it was the “Live Strong” bracelet (et al.) that bridged the gap. Whatever the cause, the link between health and jewelry seems to have increased in the past several years.
Eating disorders first rode this trend with pro-ana (anorexia) bracelets, which signify and even celebrate the wearer’s disease with other victims. That seemed unhealthy to jewelry designer Sue Gillerlain and singer/author Jenni Schaefer, who wrote Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence From Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too. They started Life Without Ed jewelry, an inspirational collection that celebrates recovery and separation from these diseases.
In the book line, “Ed” stands for “eating disorder.” The idea—created by Schaefer’s former therapi