Glitter: the product essential in many glittering Christmas decorations, children’s artwork, terrible pranks and the curse of many vacuum cleaners. It’s a substance that gets everywhere and is almost impossible to remove. However, the glitter era may be coming to an end as rumor has it that we are currently in the midst of a terrible glitter shortage!
“The horror!” we hear you scream. But where is the glitter anyway? Who uses it anyway? What is that? Well, there has been a glitter conspiracy circulating for a while now that the main consumer of this glittery product doesn’t want anyone to know their identity.
What is glitter made of?
Most glitter is made up of many large sheets of thin plastic or foil, often covered with a layer of aluminum — a substance called aluminum polyethylene terephthalate. However, some craft glitter is made of metal and glass.
It comes in many different shapes, sizes and colors. The cosmetic variant has a more circular shape so it doesn’t cut into the skin.
Why do we like glitter so much?
It is a radiant marvel that captures the imagination of all ages. Man has always been obsessed with shiny things. There may be an evolutionary reason for this, as attraction to shiny objects is related to the search for fresh water. In one study, researchers found that toddlers and infants are attracted to glittering surfaces. It was examined how often they put different plates with a shiny surface in their mouths or licked them.
How is glitter made?
It was first invented on a New Jersey farm in the 1940s by a person named Henry Ruschmann. Well versed in precision cutting, he noticed that the cutting machine he invented (designed to cut glossy photographic prints) occasionally stuttered and deposited cellulose/paper, known as “Schnibbles”. Ruschmann then invented the machine with which you could cut glitter snippets from plastic scraps. The glitter produced was intended to be a side business that could help cover the farm’s running costs of breeding and milking Guernsey cows; However, this resulted in a separate company called Meadowbrook Inventions.
Glitter didn’t come into the public eye until the Christmas season in 1940’s New York, when the use of glitter in place of Christmas candles was promoted during World War II.
Who makes glitter?
There are two main companies and both are based in New Jersey. The first is the original Meadowbrook Inventions, which according to email correspondence with The New York Times is “a very private company.” The second company is Glitterex.
There is a very mysterious atmosphere surrounding glitter production. The companies don’t even want their customers to know how this glittery fabric is made.
Who is the biggest glitter user?
There are many uses for glitter. Researchers and zookeepers even mix glitter into animal feed to track animals through their glittering droppings. Because of its static nature and difficult removal, glitter is also used as evidence at crime scenes.
However, the number one glitter consumer is an absolute secret. When a reporter asked Glitterex who the biggest market was, their lips tightened and the rep wasn’t allowed to say a word because “they don’t want anyone to know it’s glitter.” [in their product].”
Of course, this reaction captured many people’s imaginations and is the basis of the glitter conspiracy theory, or GlitterGate. Recently, many videos have found their way onto TikTok.
What are the main theories?
There are many theories that have taken the internet by storm.
Some people think that it is the boat building industry and that glitter is being incorporated into boats, reasoning that the industry doesn’t want the consumer to know about it as it could damage their masculine image. This theory may be somewhat flawed, as it is known that car paint contains glitter. So it doesn’t really agree with the original quote which suggests that no one can tell the product has glitter in it.
Another theory suggests it may be the toothpaste industry. Some people believe that it is used by the military. Others claim that it is actually mixed with the sand on many luxury beaches.
This question has been boggling the internet and there are many, many videos on it including a very detailed PowerPoint presentation on the subject.
Are we even in a glitter shortage?
Despite rumors of a shortage circulating around the internet, there are no confirmed reports from the companies themselves (secret as they are).
But if there is a shortage, that can be a good thing. Because the plastic wrap that makes up most glitter takes about 1,000 years to decompose, scientists have even called for a ban.
Who do you think is the number one glitter consumer?
A previous version of this article was published in December 2022.