Solidarity ties are made with short ribbons, which are folded in a certain way to have a small bow as the final result. The different colored ties are usually placed in the chest area, placing them in the fold of a shirt.
Worldwide they have become a symbol of awareness of diseases or social problems that merit solutions, and serve to demonstrate support for a cause, in particular, depending on the color of the ribbon, it will be clear which one is supporting.
Black solidarity bow
The black solidarity ribbon is worn by people who experience the loss of a family member or loved one, recognized in the world as a . It became popular in 1997 after the death of Diana of Wales.
In various countries it also takes place when attacks, natural disasters, mass deaths due to accidents or similar events occur.
It stands for other causes, such as melanoma cancer awareness, sleep disorders, primary biliary cholangitis, and gun control.
Pink solidarity bow
There are several, and every October, solidarity is shown with a pink ribbon to all those women who suffer from breast cancer or have undergone breast reconstruction.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was the one to use the pink ribbon for the first time. He gave some to survivors who were enrolled in the Marathon for the Cure during 1990.
October 19 is World Breast Cancer Day, a date that aims to raise awareness about this disease, its early detection and treatment.
Red solidarity bow
In the mid-90s, Frank Moore, an AIDS activist, had the idea of creating a campaign to wear a red ribbon to represent prevention and awareness among those affected by this disease.
Actor Jeremy Irons was the first public figure to wear it during the Tony Awards, increasing the visibility of the red ribbon.
In relation to AIDS, it can be used to support HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS when untreated or cardiovascular disease.
Blue solidarity bow
Blue ribbons are worn to represent various social causes, the main one being the prevention of school abuse or known as bullying and child abuse in general.
Among others is stopping drunk driving and supporting hurricane victims. It has also become a symbol color for autism spectrum disorder or ASD for short, in the fight to help and accept people to better integrate into society.
Specifically in Spain, it is used as a protest against the terrorist organization Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) and is a show of solidarity towards the relatives of people kidnapped by them. During the protests against the kidnapping of Mr. Julio Iglesias Zamora in 1993, its dissemination began, creating a large movement against ETA.
Dark blue solidarity bow
As for the dark blue ribbon, it symbolizes the prevention of abuse in minors, the rights of victims against any type of abuse, arthritis awareness, freedom of expression, protest against the low safety of water in common use and in support to those with prostate cancer.
Light blue solidarity bow
It is used to promote information and awareness of polycystic ovaries, helping to increase its treatment, in the same way it serves to show solidarity with people who have colon cancer or colitis.
Yellow solidarity bow
The international use of the yellow ribbon is in support of people affected by endometriosis, being a sign of hope.
It is also used for suicide prevention, support for adoptive parents or for the AMBER alert (disappearance of minors).
However, each country has a meaning about this ribbon, for example, in Germany it is to support the armed forces, in Italy to raise awareness about prisoners of war, in Japan it is a recognition for professionals who become public models, among others.
Light yellow solidarity bow
The yellow ribbon with a lighter intonation is used to express support for people with sarcoma cancer or Down syndrome and for all their loved ones affected by the difficulty of this disease and genetic alteration respectively.
Green solidarity bow
It is known as a symbol for environmental protection, which promotes the fight against global warming caused by large industries and improving human behavior with nature.
The green ribbon also takes place in terms of organ and tissue donation or transplants to help save more lives or improve their quality, representing, on the other hand, homeopathy and Tourette syndrome.
In recent years, mental health has been given importance, which is why we also see the green ribbon, very present on October 10, the date on which World Mental Health Day is celebrated.
Light green solidarity bow
The aim is to make people aware before starting their sexual life, and those who are sexually active, about sexually transmitted diseases or STDs.
It not only includes diseases such as HIV/AIDS, but also HPV, hepatitis, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, among others, in order to take care of oneself and others.
Orange solidarity bow
There are several aspects that are associated with the orange solidarity ribbon, such as the prevention and cure of leukemia, and recovery from addictions such as alcohol, drugs or gambling.
In certain countries it has its own meaning, in Australia it is a symbol of racial tolerance, in Ukraine and more places it is in support of kidney cancer survivors and awareness of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or complex regional pain syndrome.
At a cultural level it aims to make the fight against famine more visible, the protection of animals that are manipulated by humans and increase cultural diversity.
Purple solidarity bow
It represents support for those affected by lupus and Alzheimer’s, as well as survivors of any type of cancer. These diseases have a day for awareness in which marches are usually held.
It should be noted that March 8th marks Women’s Day, the purple ribbon is used on this day during the events that take place.
In recent years, the purple ribbon has been worn more during the Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, every November 25 or on different dates, when some type of crime occurs where the victim is a woman.
Gray solidarity bow
It originated for the first time in the late 90s in a protest against diabetes, being a symbol of the fight to reduce the number of adults or children who can develop this disease due to the abuse of consumption of foods with high levels of sugar.
Other social causes adopted to represent themselves with the color gray, such as activists who want to promote information about brain cancer and all possible brain tumors, as well as asthma, severe allergies, hyperglycemia and progressive diseases associated with language.
White solidarity bow
Mainly, it is used to represent peace, and also promotes solidarity with those people affected by osteoporosis or bone cancer.
In addition to those affected by hernias, and for those who suffer from postpartum depression, for prevention of pregnancies in adolescents and Holocaust survivors.
Turquoise solidarity bow
It is recognized as raising awareness of rape and sexual assault, whether minor or major. Depending on the country, it may have other meanings such as support for people with obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic disorders, dissociative identity disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Brown solidarity bow
The color brown represents the international fight against the legal or illegal use of tobacco, which is highly consumed in the world. However, it can mean supporting other causes such as colorectal cancer and familial polyposis.
Silver solidarity bow
The silver ribbon symbolizes solidarity with children who have disabilities, and not only that, Parkinson’s disease and various mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, severe depression, dyslexia, anxiety disorders and bipolarity.
Golden solidarity ribbon
The golden ribbon supports activists who promote solidarity and the search for treatments to improve the condition of children diagnosed with any cancer or spina bifida.
Jade solidarity bow
A solidarity campaign with the jade green ribbon was launched in May 2001 by the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, so that people would know more information about hepatitis B and liver cancer.
Blue and pink solidarity bow
We have the color blue representing boys and pink representing girls with the intention of making known the importance of the neonatal period of babies, in which many changes happen that can define their lives.
In the same way, the blue and pink ribbon is used to console people who have unfortunately suffered the loss of their son or daughter due to sudden infant death or their future baby due to a spontaneous abortion.
Blue, green and white solidarity bow
In the month of March 2020, the Pro Patiens Institute proposed the use of the blue, green and white ribbon to honor all health personnel who have been responsible for caring for those affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19), directly or indirectly, including of course those who have died working against the virus.