Kandi bracelet
A kandi bracelet is a type of bracelet made out of beads, often pony beads, and is a popular type of attire in rave culture, particularly kandi culture. Kandi bracelets are traditionally handcrafted, and some view store-bought kandi bracelets as diminishing their meaning.[1] They are frequently made with rainbow or lettered beads.[2]
Trading kandi is an important element of kandi culture, and is often done to memorialize a special moment shared with someone or a connection formed. It can be considered rude to trade away kandi bracelets received through a trade.
"Kandi kids" is a term for those in the kandi trading subculture.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]The term 'kandi' may come from the phrase 'candy necklace'; when pronounced out loud, kandi and candy sound the same.[6]
Kandi bracelets may have evolved out of friendship bracelets;[7] friendship bracelets are often handmade and exchanged to commemorate a friendship, like kandi bracelets.[1] The idea that they started as a drug symbol is likely a myth based on the prevalence of club drugs at raves.[3]
Left vs right arm
[edit]Kandi bracelets kept on the right arm are available to trade, while those on the left arm are not.[8][9]
PLUR and trading
[edit]The PLUR handshake is done when exchanging kandi bracelets, with each element of the acronym represented by a step.[9][10][11] Sometimes, the words are said as the gestures are done:[6]
- Peace: A peace sign is made, and the two fingertips are each touched to each other.
- Love: Half of a hand heart is made by each party, with the two combining to form a single heart.
- Unity: Hands are clasped together, as in a high five.
- Respect: Fingers are clasped together. Kandi bracelets are, one at a time, moved to the other party's hand, using the non-clasping arm.
Often, the PLUR handshake is followed by a hug.[12]
Terminology
[edit]Kandi bracelets have kandi-specific terms to describe them.[3]
There are various common terms regarding the types of kandi you are able to make, they are as follows.
Stitch: An umbrella term regarding the specific types of kandi you are able to create. There are a two most common stitches are Multistitch, and Peyote stitch (even and odd). Most Kandi projects are based on these stitches in some way.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Small, Liz. "5 Things You Didn't Know About Kandi Bracelets". Relentless Beats. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Buncsi, Carine (December 2014). "Why Kandi Keeps the Spirit of Rave Alive in the Us". Mixmag: 26.
- ^ a b c Weekly, L. A. (2017-03-03). "Inside the World of the Kandi Kids, Dance Music's Most Colorful Subculture". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "Introducing Kandi kids, a wholesome subculture birthed out of the American rave scene". Introducing Kandi kids, a wholesome subculture birthed out of the American rave scene. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "Anatomy of a Kandi Kid". Rolling Stone.
- ^ a b T, Nate (2022-04-25). "What is Kandi? How do You Trade Them at Raves?". Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Beehler, Kiah (2019-10-04). "Exploring the role of kandi in our scene today (Opinion)". Dance Music NW. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Tessene, Jessica (2018-03-25). "Kandi Etiquette: The Guide to Trading for First Timers". EDM Identity. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ a b iHeartRaves. "How to Trade Kandi at a Rave". iHeartRaves. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ kkussman (17 May 2020). "PLUR Handshake and the Exchanging of Kandi – Rave Culture | USC Digital Folklore Archives". Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ "The Culture Behind Kandi | Kevin Taylor". sites.psu.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Packs, Lunchbox. "What is PLUR?". Lunchbox Packs. Retrieved 2023-02-08.