Kandi bracelet
A kandi bracelet is a type of bracelet made usually out of pony beads, and is a popular type of attire in scene or rave culture, particularly kandi culture. Kandi bracelets are traditionally handcrafted, and some view store-bought kandi bracelets as diminishing their meaning of 'unity'.[1] They are frequently made with rainbow or lettered beads.[2]
"Kandi kids" is a term for those in the kandi trading subculture.[3][4]
History
[edit]The term 'kandi' may come from the phrase 'candy necklace'; when pronounced out loud, kandi and candy sound the same.[5]
Kandi bracelets may have evolved out of friendship bracelets;[6] 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]
PLUR and trading
[edit]The PLUR handshake is done when exchanging kandi bracelets, with each element of the acronym represented by a step.[7][8][9] Kandi bracelets kept on the right arm are available to trade, while those on the left arm are not.[10][7] Sometimes, the words are said as the gestures are done:[11]
- "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] Stitch is an umbrella term regarding the specific types of kandi; the three most common stitches are multistitch (even tubular peyote stitch), flat peyote stitch (even and odd), and x base.[3] Cuffs are any form of kandi bracelet that uses multiple rows of beads.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Small, Liz. "5 Things You Didn't Know About Kandi Bracelets". Relentless Beats. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Buncsi, Carine (December 2014). "Why Kandi Keeps the Spirit of Rave Alive in the Us". Mixmag: 26.
- ^ a b c d e Bevacqua, Joel (March 3, 2017). "Inside the World of the Kandi Kids, Dance Music's Most Colorful Subculture". LA Weekly. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Pradeep, Malavika (July 1, 2021). "Introducing Kandi kids, a wholesome subculture birthed out of the American rave scene". Screenshot Media. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Rinehart, JD (April 25, 2022). "What is Kandi? How do You Trade Them at Raves?". Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Beehler, Kiah (October 4, 2019). "Exploring the role of kandi in our scene today (Opinion)". Dance Music NW. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b iHeartRaves. "How to Trade Kandi at a Rave". iHeartRaves. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ kkussman (May 17, 2020). "PLUR Handshake and the Exchanging of Kandi – Rave Culture | USC Digital Folklore Archives". Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "The Culture Behind Kandi | Kevin Taylor". sites.psu.edu. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Tessene, Jessica (March 25, 2018). "Kandi Etiquette: The Guide to Trading for First Timers". EDM Identity. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ T, Nate (April 25, 2022). "What is Kandi? How do You Trade Them at Raves?". Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Packs, Lunchbox. "What is PLUR?". Lunchbox Packs. Retrieved February 8, 2023.