I bought my Elacin ER hearing protection plugs through my orchestra because we get a volume discount. I really like them, but the color of the string has always been my pet peeve about them. "The string" is a cord with a crocodile clip that is held into both silicone plugs with a small piece of plastic. You can detach it from the plugs, but I also like having the feature of being able to briefly remove a plug. From the factory, the string is a striking blue that clashes with functionally all pieces of clothing, especially black/white concert clothes.
I replaced the string with some 1.5mm black polyester cord (anything synthetic will do for this method). I failed to thread it through the plastic endings, which might be possible with a thinner cord. Instead of buying another one, I found that melting the ending of the cord into a ball with a lighter does a very reasonable job as well. Briefly hold the cord in the flame and press it against a fireproof, clean surface.
Now I can remove and reinsert the plugs anytime while maintaining a subdued look 🍻