Kandi Kid

A Kandi Kid (commonly called a "kara", "Kandy Raver", or "Kandi Raver") is a person who exchanges or shares small gifts, primarily beads, necklaces, toys, bracelets or stickers. The bead bracelets are custom made and swapped from person to person when they meet new friends by the kandi kisses, the "kandi kid handshake", or a simple hand off.
The defining aspect of a Kandi Kid's appearance is their wearing of many homemade bracelets made of plastic pony beads, known as Kandi. The bracelets are often given as gifts to remember past raves and commemorate new friendships. Kandi Kids are also known (and sometimes identified) by their brightly colored style. They are often found wearing clothing selected by feel (soft textures being most desirable) and color rather than style, often depicting "trippy" designs, as well as cartoon characters, hair falls, fake dreadlocks, childlike attire, chew toys laced on string around their necks, fuzzy gators, visor hats, hair clips, and bright makeup.
Origins
Kandi Kids can primarily trace their style of fashion to the late 1980s culture and the "Summer of Love" in the United Kingdom. Fashion in clubs at the time were primarily day-glo colored attire, smiley face clothing (fashion also attributed to Acid House and the corresponding movement) and whistles.
Many spelling variants occur throughout the rave scene when referring to this subculture, although the actual origins of the term are unknown. Use of the term on Usenet shows earliest reference to the spelling "candee", with alternates "kandy", "kandi" or "candi" following later. Another more recent spelling, "khandi", has also been seen on advertisements for some local raves. Spelling variants appear to be regional.
Music
Kandi kids listen to a variety of alternative music genres not widely seen outside of their groups. They commonly listen to sub-genres of Electronic Dance Music that include but are not limited to Happy Hardcore, UK Hardcore, Hardstyle, Trance, PsyTrance, House, Hard House, Techno, Electro, and Jungle. Most of these sub-genres fall under the category of Electronic Dance Music with single mixes that can go up to or even surpass two hours in length. Also a popular music genre is Chiptune, consisting of music made from game consoles.
The Making Of
Kandi is generally made of plastic pony beads, occasionally with various other beads made of metal, wood or glass. Hearts, stars, pom-poms, Alphabeads, glow-in-the-dark beads, butterflies and smiley faces are popular choices when making Kandi and are generally made with elastic string to stretch. Kandi Kids will sometimes hold parties just for the sake of making Kandi, generally as gifts for friends.
Kandi has four main functions:
Visual Aspect
Kandi is usually made up of very bright day-glo colors chosen to enhance the visual effects created when someone dances while wearing them and being illuminated by different types and colors of light. The sequence of colors chosen will sometimes appear jumbled and somewhat random, but the beads are typically chosen to contrast with other beads, making them visually jump out. Some beads will also be UV reactive or glow in the dark. Because of the vast amounts of Kandi that are worn, typically not all pieces will fit onto the raver's arm. Sometimes a shoelace or string, tied to a raver's waist or backpack, is used to hold all the Kandi.
Tactile Aspect
The tactile aspect is the way the kandi feels on the arm. With the kandi usually being tight in nature, the person wearing them can constantly feel the bracelets on their arms, thus enhancing the touch sensitive part of ecstasy intoxication. Another person may rub their hands on the wearer's Kandi, producing a pleasing feeling for both. Two ravers may rub their kandi together, creating a noise and effect called "kandi kisses". After a rave, when a raver removes their kandi, imprints may be left in the skin where circulation has been disrupted; this effect is commonly called "kandi cancer".
Emotional, Sentimental, Or Nostalgic Aspect
In most cases, beyond its aesthetic worth, there is a memory or sentiment that can be tied to each Kandi. Kandi can be a link to a memory of a friend, place, action, party/rave or feeling. There is also the fact that at some points when someone mentions a particular Kandi the wearer has the chance to share the story behind it to the other person. In general, it is frowned upon to trade Kandi that has been "gifted" to a raver.
Social Aspect
The fourth aspect of Kandi is a gift that a raver will give or swap with new friends, and new ravers they have just met. This action expands the raver's social network and allows them to know more people.
On Giving Kandi Away
When Kandi bracelets are exchanged, there is usually a series of hand gestures symbolizing the units of "PLUR" - Peace, Love, Unity, Respect. The gesture for Peace is to form a peace sign with your index and middle fingers and touch to the fingers of the person receiving the kandi. The gesture for Love is to form a heart by curving your fingers and thumb with the person who is receiving the kandi. The gesture for Unity is to place your palm vertically on the palm of the person who is receiving the kandi. The gesture for Respect is to weave your fingers into the fingers of the person who is receiving the kandi. Then the kandi bracelet is transferred from the owners wrist to the wrist of another, symbolizing the beginning of a friendship.
Other Types Of Kandi
Aside from typical single-stranded bracelets there are many other kinds of bracelets, jewelry and other accessories that are sometimes made:
The Kandi Cuff
Kandi cuffs are multi-stranded kandi bracelets made out of hundreds or even thousands of beads. There are many types of kandi cuffs, but two of the types that are most commonly seen at raves are multi stitch and 3D. Multi-stitch kandi cuffs are flat cuffs that feature patterns or pictures, often of cartoon characters. 3D kandi cuffs are cuffs which have layer upon layer of beads, making the bracelet very thick and often heavy. When the kandi cuff gets beyond a certain size, it's often referred to as an epic cuff. In recent years, epic cuffs have become more and more common in the rave scene, as have multi-stitch cuffs due to sites that offer free "kandi patterns." The increasing popularity of pattern websites and websites that teach how to make different kinds of kandi cuffs is testimony to the growing popularity of kandi cuffs, and a glance through photo albums on raver websites reveal that almost all ravers now choose to wear cuffs over single-stranded bracelets.
The Kandi Necklace
One very common variation is the Kandi Necklace. Kandi necklaces are made the same way as the bracelets except they are often much larger. The necklaces are not always made with the elastic string. Sometimes, instead of stretchy string, regular cotton, tweed, hemp or leather string is used. The necklaces sometimes have a whistle or binky (pacifier) strung or hung on them. The binky is often used to chew on so not to engage in teeth grinding in response to ecstasy use; however, some kandi kids wear them only as an accessory. The whistle is used to produce a tweeting sound sometimes along with the rhythm of the music.
The Kandi Ring
A less common type of kandi is the Kandi Ring. It is made in the same way as the other types however it is meant to fit only the finger. It is most commonly used when a "marriage" is performed. When two ravers become close friends, and are somewhat interested in each other, they can get "married" and are from then on each other's "rave-husband" or "rave-wife".
The Kandi Anklet
Another is the Kandi Anklet. It is of the same fashion as the Kandi Bracelet but is worn on the ankle.
General Kandi Information
It is possible to make kandi hoodies, shirts, corsets, dresses, shorts, headbands, scrunchies, hair pieces, crowns, hats, arm warmers, gloves, leg warmers, skirts, bandanas, masks, bags, and cup holders (along with many other things).
Kandi is sometimes consider to be drug related, especially if there is a pacifier or an item you could hide pills in (i.e. rubber ducky).

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