Basic Information on Kandi, Kandi Kids, & Raves
KandiKandi is the name we give to the beaded jewelry and other creations that we wear and share. It is typically made of plastic pony beads and elastic string. When it first got its start, kandi was usually worn by drug dealers at raves as a way of distinguishing who had the "candy"-like pills people often take at raves. And then it spread waaaaaay beyond just the drug dealers and the phenomenon of Kandi Kids began.
As it is worn today, kandi is basically the raver form of friendship bracelets. Kandi is made and worn by ravers all around the world, and you trade or give it away to other ravers and kandi kids at events as a gesture of friendship and PLUR and as a way to remember the people you meet at raves. Trading etiquette generally states that an in-person kandi exchange is done either with a handshake representing PLUR or by holding hands with the person you're giving kandi to and sliding the pieces you're exchanging over your joined hands onto the recipient's wrist. It's also considered rude and disrespectful to give away kandi that you've received from another person, and the sale and purchase of kandi is generally frowned upon because it goes against the idea of giving generously from your heart to make another raver happy.
Kandi comes in many forms: single bracelets, double- and triple-layered bracelets, necklaces, cuffs, 3Ds of all shapes and sizes, headbands, anklets, belts, purses, backpacks, visors, hats, bikini tops, and even clothing items like hoodies, skirts, and pants!
Some other things you might find on kandi, besides pony beads and string, include: melty-bead creations, decorative beads in fun shapes, buttons, ribbons, letter beads, words, pacifiers, LEDs, keychains, small toys... the possibilities are pretty much endless! If there's a hole in it, or if you can put a hole in it, and if you can put it on a piece of string and attach it to a kandi piece, go for it! Really, the sky's the limit. Kandi is an exercise of creativity.
K-A-N-D-I is the most common spelling of kandi used to refer to our pony-bead creations, but it can be spelled with two I's, an I-E, or a Y at the end. Other spelling variations also exist.
Kandi KidsKandi kids are typically regarded as a subset of ravers who make, wear, and trade lots and lots of kandi. Kandi kid fashion ranges the entire spectrum of rave gear, from the more cyber and go-go looks to old-school cartoon characters and phat pants to the popular bra-tutu-fluffies combo you see today. Generally speaking, kandi kids believe in PLUR(R) and do their best to live it. Generally speaking, we're a also just out to have a good time. We're a peace-loving bunch.
There is occasionally some debate as to whether or not people who don't rave but wear kandi are "posers" or if they can call themselves kandi kids or whatever. Here at SMACK!, we are going to say phooey to that debate. Some of our members are young, or in very limiting situations that don't allow them to rave, but they are kandi kids and members of our family just the same as those of us who have been raving for years and years.
Our official guild stance is: If you have the spirit of a kandi kid, you are a kandi kid. And, as trash-talking someone's status as a kandi kid is
extremely rude, you are
NOT allowed to question anyone's worthiness to the name of Kandi Kid in this guild, on the Facebook group, or in the thread in the main forums.
End of discussion.If you want a more solid definition for "kandi kid," go check out what
Wikipedia and
Urban Dictionary have to say on the subject. Just do yourself a favor and take those with a grain of salt, because as you know, anyone can edit Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary definitions are based on popular votes.
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