Trinkets, or mementos, have been a part of human culture for centuries. We don’t know much about how they originated or when their history started, due to their nature as trinkets, which could be as simple as a bead or rock, and without documentation, nobody would know if they held significance. Therefore, archeologists and historians don’t have a set time as to when the phenomenon of trinket collection? really started.
A trinket is defined as a ‘small ornament (such as a jewel or ring)’ or ‘a thing of little value’ by Merriam-Webster. You could also define it as a small item that doesn’t hold much monetary value, but sentimental value instead. If you asked a person who collects trinkets to define what they were, you would probably get a mix of definitions.
With the rise of small, collectible items, many companies have jumped at the opportunity to get some money out of the trend. There have been numerous trends revolving around trinkets, such as Smiskis, Sonny Angels, and, most notably, Labubus. Small toys that are expensive enough to make you waver when buying for the first time quickly turn into small toys that are just cheap enough to make you keep coming back. There’s no mistake that such trinkets typically come in blind boxes, so people are encouraged to buy more in hopes of completing a collection or getting the exact toy they desire.
Another subsection of trinkets contains keychains and pins. Many people prefer collecting keychains and pins because it allows them to express themselves more openly. Putting pins or keychains on things like your backpack and being able to display your interests and personality everywhere you go is appealing. Sometimes, people buy clear cases to display their trinkets that aren’t keychains, a practice more common in figures like Smiskis or Sonny Angels. Part of the reason why Labubus are so popular is that you can display them using the keychain that they hang from.
The process of collecting keychains and pins tends to be slower, though. You usually collect such items over time, and sometimes you might even lose a pin or two. The revolving door of collecting trinkets adds personality and authenticity to the things you own.
Studies have shown that physical items invoke stronger memories than photographs. Having a memento that holds memories of a happy time for a person makes the sentimental value of a certain item much stronger. Even when getting more commonly bought trinkets that come in blindboxes, people tend to buy them as treats or rewards for themselves. This gives people a more fond way to think of their trinkets, no matter where they were from.
Evidently, even though the means of collecting trinkets have changed over time, the love and popularity for them have only gotten stronger. There is no right or wrong way to collect trinkets, and just like how times have changed, trinket collecting has too.
