Definition
A small, white or off-white shell bead derived from cone snail shells, typically strung on cord or leather to make necklaces or bracelets. Puka shell jewelry became a major fashion trend in the 1990s and early 2000s, often associated with surfer and beach culture.
Example Usage
He wore a puka shell necklace year-round, even though he lived nowhere near the ocean.
Origin
Puka shells are native to Hawaii and the Pacific islands; the jewelry trend gained mainstream popularity in North America during the 1990s as surf culture entered mainstream fashion.
Fun Fact
The puka shell necklace became so ubiquitous in '90s and early 2000s fashion that it is now iconic of that era, though it originated from Hawaiian cultural adornment.
Related Terms
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