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“As a child, I would always wear a black cord around my neck, and whenever I would find a special shell or stone, I’d find a way to tie it to my cord, and wear it for luck,” reminisces Rosh Mahtani, founder of London-based jewellery label Alighieri. This is a sentiment that many people might resonate with – especially for those that grew up in the late ’80s and ’90s, when the enthusiasm for cord necklaces reached its peak (Drew Barrymore, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were early endorsers at the time).
In 2024, nostalgic pendants suspended from cord and leather have usurped traditional metal lockets and the like to become one of the most popular accessories of summer. This is thanks, in part, to the boho revival that’s swept the fashion landscape. Lyst reports searches for pendants on the whole are up 69 per cent week-on-week, while searches for “cord necklaces” have witnessed a 31 per cent increase over the last six months.
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Rosh is one of several designers that have given the cord necklace a modern update: “Last year, inspired by the idea of collecting magic on my travels, I created the Link of Wanderlust and Gone Fishing chokers, as a nod to childhood escapades, collecting lucky talismans, and wearing them in a really organic way,” she tells Vogue. “It’s been so much fun to expand our cord anthology, and this year, I combined a brown leather cord with icy sterling silver on the Bones of Rebirth Necklace – inspired by the notion of new beginnings. The cord, for me, allows a certain ease and organic elegance for each talisman.”
Agmes, Annika Inez, Vertigo, Sophie Buhai and Ysso are but a few other brands that have designed contemporary takes on the cord necklace, featuring abstract pendants rendered in silver, gold, glass, pearl and gemstones. Keen DIY-ers should consider making their own – there are endless numbers of unique pendants on eBay. There are also plenty of vintage versions available, too. Here, shop the best cord necklaces available now.
- The recycled silver style: Agmes Recycled Silver And Cord Necklace, £240
- The pre-loved treasure: Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Disc Pendant, £770
- The playful jewel: Levens Jewels Pendant, £68
- The glass pendant: Cos Glass Pendant Leather Necklace, £40
- The gold-plated necklace: Anissa Kermiche Gold-Plated Cord Necklace, £210