Seen stretched out on the wrist, the bracelets — known generically as silly bands, but sold as Silly Bandz, Zanybandz, Stretchy Shapes, and Goofy Bands — don’t look that special. It’s off-wrist that the genius of the product can be appreciated. They come in such a wide variety of shapes that there may not be a human alive who couldn’t find something appealing.

Pictured: Five-year-old Alex Sweeney of Belmont proudly displays some of his collection of silly bands. Another child gave him one and, says his mother Elizabeth Sebrene, he was instantly hooked.