DISCO PARTY IN YOUR POCKET

Photo by Nathaniel Harnedy

When walking through Syracuse University senior Polly Hoffman’s house, her friends may encounter an unusual piece of décor—a comically large martini glass filled with over 60 lighters, each with a unique design. Hoffman spotted the first lighter in her collection a couple of years ago, while browsing through a gas station, when a lighter with a peculiar design caught her eye. Since then, Hoffman has searched every convenience store for a new addition.

“I've come to find the best funky lighters come from the randomest gas stations you'd ever go into,” Hoffman said.

One of Hoffman’s personal favorites is one she designed herself. Inspired by her love for the ‘70s disco aesthetic, she decided to glue tiny pieces of glass to a lighter to create something like a “little disco party in your pocket,” as she described it. For SU sophomore Morgan Magats, lighters are reminders of cherished snippets of her life. They mark special moments, from lighting candles on a birthday cake to filling a room with the scent of a seasonal candle. Inspired by clay lighter cases that popped up on her social media feeds, Magats began decorating her own lighters last spring. Instead of clay, she uses extra beads from previous craft projects. According to Magats, the majority of the lighters are based on her friends’ personalities and they often become gifts for the people who inspired them.

“It’s like a little homage to them,” she said.

Lilia Steel, an SU senior, was searching for a fun arts and crafts activity to do with her roommates and neighbors when she thought of making D.I.Y clay lighter cases. She enjoys creating casings as an outlet that allows her to show off her work on a silly canvas.

Steel loves picking out a lighter to match her jewelry and outfits. She said they are a fun addition that brings some whimsy to her everyday looks.

“Having a more eccentric accessory that you can pull out when you're smoking definitely is fun,” Steel said.