If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.
Top-of-the-line technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, fashion choices included. And now, in the latest display of the co-mingling of these two industries, Swarovski has teamed up with the viral earplugs brand Loop to create a product that will protect your ears during bass-boosted live music events — all while showing off your appreciation for the finer things in life.
The new, limited-edition crystal earplugs from Loop and Swarovski come just in time for the latter’s 130th anniversary. The iconic institution tapped a well-rounded cohort of brands this year to celebrate the occasion, which, besides Loop, includes Puma, Oakley, A Bathing Ape, and Off-White. It’s also a grand moment for Loop, which has never before collaborated with a fashion house (not to mention one as renowned as Swarovski).
What you’ll be getting here merges the best of what both Loop and Swarovski have to offer. The earplugs are a revamped version of Loop’s bestselling Experience 2 model, filtering noise by 17 decibels, providing a customizable fit, and allowing you to enjoy all your favorite artists perform live (whether you’re in the mosh pit or the nosebleeds) while avoiding that dreaded “ringing in ears” sensation after the fact.
Meet the newest pair of Loop’s famous earplugs — a collaboration release with Swarovski that will elevate your concert outfits in no time.
Courtesy Swarovski, Loop Earplugs
Loop’s original Experience 2 earplugs are offered in styles spanning silver, holographic red, rose gold, and beyond, but Swarovski’s 3D-printed take is something completely unprecedented as far as glamour is concerned: boasting a glossy chrome build with crystals in various shapes and sizes leveling up the silhouette. And because an earplugs case needs to live up to the essential tech it houses inside, the collaboration’s version is sleek, all-white, and pampered with a co-branded charm — honoring today’s fascination of putting adornments on everything from your bag to your shoes.
“Loop was started by Dimitri O and myself,” Maarten Bodewes, the company’s co-founder, tells WWD. “We’ve been friends since high school and [have always] loved everything that was loud, whether that was festivals, concerts, student bars, or even motorcycles and cars.”
This passion got the best of Bodewes when he came home from a party one night during his last year of college and couldn’t seem to shake off the ringing in his ears. Enter: Bodewes’ burgeoning interest in the technology behind earplugs and, eventually, the genesis of Loop. The brand hit the ground running in 2016, with the intention of revitalizing this product category and ending the supremacy of dull, basic, foam-based ear protection.
“ We were like, ‘okay, why can’t we design something that looks cool like an accessory but also protects your ears and [doesn’t] distort the music?’” shares Bodewes.
The purchase comes with additional ear tip sizes for finding your perfect fit, a charm-bedecked carrying case, and a lifetime warranty.
Courtesy Swarovski, Loop Earplugs
At the beginning of their Loop journey, the founders called themselves “nightlife evangelists,” which was an indication of their singular focus on the concerts-slash-nightlife market at the time. Now, Loop earplugs include picks for sleeping, for socializing in groups, for kids ages 6-12, and more.
“It’s been amazing to see the changes — from the company that we started, when we 3D-printed our own earplugs and spray-painted them with cans from Home Depot, to now [having sold] 20 million earplugs,” says Bodewes, whose Loop creations (no longer spray-painted by hand but engineered in Belgium with the highest degree of precision and thoughtfulness) can be spotted everywhere from Coachella to Formula 1 Grand Prix events.
The brand’s Swarovski launch, though, represents a “return to roots” of sorts, as the design is made exclusively with live music events in mind while putting a greater-than-ever emphasis on aesthetics.
”We always thought, ‘how can we break the taboo that ear protection is boring?’” Bodewes reflects. “I think something like this really challenges that stigma.”
Who wouldn’t want to round out their very best concert outfits with a touch of high-end sparkle that doesn’t come at the cost of comfort? That’s exactly what you’ll be getting by shopping the collab and staying in the loop, quite literally, of the fashion world’s growing culture of technological innovation.
Sign up for WWD Shop‘s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.
Loop x Swarovski Experience 2 Earplugs
Price upon publish date of this article: $129
Why Trust WWD
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on new product releases in the accessories space.
