Roman Kavanagh
Opinions Editor
The term “kandi” is used to refer to brightly colored bead bracelets that are handmade and traded within scene and electronic dance music (EDM) subcultures. The term likely originated due to the beads’ cute and vibrant appearance. Today, kandi is becoming a much more widespread craft, and a growing number of people are beginning to recognize and partake in it. In an interview with the talented crafter Alana Carroll, I unpacked some of the cultural history behind kandi and what it means now that the world is becoming more keen on the craft.
“Originally, I think like most people, I found it on TikTok when I was looking for hobbies during the pandemic era,” Alana says. “A lot of cool alternative people were doing it, and I’d never really experimented with my fashion, so I wanted to try it out and see how it goes.”
Alana’s progression started slowly, with the creation of singlet bracelets with funny or fandom-related phrases on them. “It was like a conversation starter initially,” she says. “And then I found out you can make these big huge cuffs and other things that weren’t just the single bracelets. And then I found a website called kandipatterns.com.” This was a turning point in Alana’s kandi career. “Once I made my first flat cuff I started doing these 3D ones, and now, it’s like second nature.”
The practice of making and researching kandi led Alana to pursue the alternative subcultures associated with them. “Since I got into making kandi I’ve been to a few raves,” she says. “It’s really big in the rave subculture. There’s a common handshake in rave-culture where participants say “peace, love, unity and respect” while making hand symbols and then you trade bracelets.” Here, Alana is referring to the acronym PLUR, a breakdown of the core values of the rave scene. “It’s always my favorite part of going to raves, is giving people kandi and trading and then seeing what I have at the end of the night. It’s just a way to connect with people.”
Kandi has taken on a political meaning as well, one which represents inclusivity and acceptance. “A lot of the time I see it as a symbol that someone can be on the same wavelength politically with me,” Alana says. “I tend to assume if people have them on they might be alternative or queer…” But the most important thing about kandi is not style or orientation, but rather, kindness. As long as you respect PLUR, you can partake in the creation of kandi.
Kandi is a part of numerous subcultures. “It started in the rave scene, but now it's part of a lot of different aesthetics. People who dress in kidcore fashion wear a lot of it. I also see it a lot in Decora kei fashion which is a harajuku street fashion. I see it in a lot of maximalist fashion.”
Nowadays, many fans of Taylor Swift, or “Swifties,” have been getting into the kandi and bracelet making scene. “I wear my bracelets at work and people tell me they like my Taylor Swift bracelets,” Alana laughs. “I don’t listen to Taylor Swift,” she says. “But Taylor Swift bracelets, friendship bracelets, I hear all of it.” Like most people who make kandi, however, Alana has an ultimately very accepting and welcoming view to these new fans. “I think it’s great for people who get into it because of Taylor Swift…and how that can gradually get them into making kandi of other shapes and sizes and maybe learning more about the subculture as a whole.” The crafting community is a positive one, and nobody should be shunned for trying new things. As long as you maintain the values of PLUR and “respect where it came from,” Alana says, then you are good to go.
Alana is a true pro of kandi. The coolest thing she’s made to date is a full rave outfit entirely out of beads. “I made a skirt out of beads and it took me five hours, but it was the first thing I ever wore to a rave. And I made a matching bikini top to go with it that also took me four or five hours, so in total I spent ten hours working on the outfit.” This level of dedication is exemplary for the kandi genre. Whether you want to make a singlet with the name of your favorite YouTuber on it or an entire outfit out of kandi, the most important thing is that you follow your own creativity and remember, “peace, love, unity and respect.”