They really are! 🥰 I bought it in a shop just because it’s cute. I have it hanging on a USB C cable, I will think of this convo and try it on a lightning cable, never tried it but I think that would fit better because it’s thinner. 
Good luck with finding a solution! 

 mainly just need nylon braiding IMO 

 Definitely more efficient:D 

 wo/man cannot live by pvc alone, but by every word that comes from a nylon braid!