Kandi bracelet

A kandi bracelet is a type of bracelet usually made 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]

Two people wearing kandi bracelets on both of their arms

"Kandi kids" is a term for those in the kandi trading subculture.^[3][4]

History

The term 'kandi' may come from the phrase 'candy necklace'; when pronounced out loud, kandi and candy sound the same.^[5] They started appearing in the early 1990s in the EDM and Rave scene.^[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]

This same style of bracelets, but under the more general name of "Friendship bracelets" have been traded at Taylor Swift shows in the 2020s.^[6] This brought the popularity of these bracelets to a wider audience of younger fans.

PLUR and trading

The PLUR handshake is done when exchanging kandi bracelets, with each element of the acronym represented by a step.^[8][9][10] Kandi bracelets kept on the right arm are available to trade, while those on the left arm are not.^[11][8] Sometimes, the words are said as the gestures are done:^[12]

• "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.^[13]

Terminology

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]