Wristbands all the rage among Labour supporters

Labour's fashion accessory.

Madonna wears one, so does Bono and Bob Geldof and now Labour supporters too can wear their very own wristbands.

Once the party faithful were content to glad themselves out in badges, rosettes and t-shirts, but this election Labour has got trendy and produced about 5000 red rubber bands embossed with "Labour" for supporters to show their colours.

Wristbands with a purpose have become a fashion accessory thanks to the high-profile Make Poverty History campaign where musicians and actors clamoured to wear the white wristbands to promote the cause.

Kabbalah (mystical Hebrew religion) bracelets worn by the likes of Madonna and Victoria Beckham have also been popular.

MPs wearing Labour wristbands might not have the same appeal as A-list stars, but the party says the bands have been a hit nonetheless.

The wristbands, believed to have been dreamed up in the office of Hamilton East MP Dianne Yates, got their first outing on Sunday at the launch of the party's youth policy.

Yesterday at Victoria University, Young Labour supporters listening to Education Minister Trevor Mallard appeared to have enthusiastically taken to the wristbands.

Young Labour volunteer Geoff Hayward said the bands had been popular with students and also with older people who wanted to appear fashionable.

Green Party members standing nearby in the university's quad were musing about whether the bands could be recycled.

The party says the bands cost less than $1 each to produce.