kandi bracelet
{{Short description|Type of bracelet associated with rave culture}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}File:Kandi_for_rave.jpg
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'.{{Cite web |last=Small |first=Liz |title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Kandi Bracelets |url=https://relentlessbeats.com/2019/02/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-kandi-bracelets/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Relentless Beats |language=en-US}} They are frequently made with rainbow or lettered beads.{{Cite journal |last=Buncsi |first=Carine |date=December 2014 |title=Why Kandi Keeps the Spirit of Rave Alive in the Us |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=100416493&site=eds-live&scope=site |journal=Mixmag |pages=26}}
"Kandi kids" is a term for those in the kandi trading subculture.{{Cite web |last=Bevacqua |first=Joel |date=2017-03-03 |title=Inside the World of the Kandi Kids, Dance Music's Most Colorful Subculture |url=https://www.laweekly.com/inside-the-world-of-the-kandi-kids-dance-musics-most-colorful-subculture/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=LA Weekly |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pradeep |first=Malavika |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Introducing Kandi kids, a wholesome subculture birthed out of the American rave scene |url=https://screenshot-media.com/the-future/trends/kandi-kids-explained/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=Screenshot Media |language=en}}
History
The term 'kandi' may come from the phrase 'candy necklace'; when pronounced out loud, kandi and candy sound the same.{{Cite web |last=Rinehart |first=JD |date=2022-04-25 |title=What is Kandi? How do You Trade Them at Raves? |url=https://www.deepinthemix.com/what-is-kandi/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |language=en-US}}
Kandi bracelets may have evolved out of friendship bracelets;{{Cite web |last=Beehler |first=Kiah |date=2019-10-04 |title=Exploring the role of kandi in our scene today (Opinion) |url=https://www.dancemusicnw.com/exploring-kandi-modern-scene-opinion/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Dance Music NW |language=en-US}} friendship bracelets are often handmade and exchanged to commemorate a friendship, like kandi bracelets.
PLUR and trading
The PLUR handshake is done when exchanging kandi bracelets, with each element of the acronym represented by a step.{{Cite web |last=iHeartRaves |title=How to Trade Kandi at a Rave |url=https://www.iheartraves.com/blogs/post/how-to-trade-kandi-at-a-rave |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=iHeartRaves |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=kkussman |title=PLUR Handshake and the Exchanging of Kandi – Rave Culture {{!}} USC Digital Folklore Archives |date=17 May 2020 |url=http://folklore.usc.edu/plur-handshake-and-the-exchanging-of-kandi-rave-culture/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=The Culture Behind Kandi {{!}} Kevin Taylor |url=https://sites.psu.edu/kzt5196english/2015/09/17/the-culture-behind-kandi/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=sites.psu.edu}} Kandi bracelets kept on the right arm are available to trade, while those on the left arm are not.{{Cite web |last=Tessene |first=Jessica |date=2018-03-25 |title=Kandi Etiquette: The Guide to Trading for First Timers |url=https://edmidentity.com/2018/03/25/kandi-etiquette-trading-guide/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=EDM Identity |language=en-US}} Sometimes, the words are said as the gestures are done:{{Cite web |last=T |first=Nate |date=2022-04-25 |title=What is Kandi? How do You Trade Them at Raves? |url=https://www.deepinthemix.com/what-is-kandi/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |language=en-US}}
- "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 free arm.
Often, the PLUR handshake is followed by a hug.{{Cite web |last=Packs |first=Lunchbox |title=What is PLUR? |url=https://www.lunchboxpacks.com/blogs/music/what-is-plur |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Lunchbox Packs |language=en}}
Terminology
Kandi bracelets have kandi-specific terms to describe them. 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. Cuffs are any form of kandi bracelet that uses multiple rows of beads.