Lokai bracelets, a symbol of perseverance

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Erin Lemanski

Lokai was founded by Steven Izen whose grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. This was one of his lowest points in his life. “I saw people wearing them and I asked them what it was about, and when I found them in downtown Stillwater I bought one,” said junior Megan Felsch. Everyone has highs and lows in their lives, the trick is to keep yourself balanced throughout them.

Whether it be summer or winter, Lokai bracelets look amazing year round. These trendy bracelets are flying off the shelves with both boys and girls craving to own one of their own. The bracelets are designed to help keep one’s life balanced and centered.

Lokai bracelets have been around since 2013. It is a company out of New York founded by Steven Izen, making therapeutic bracelets. The jewelry is made out of rubber with a black and white bead on each side of the bracelet. The colored beads symbolize different aspects in a lifetime. The black bead represents mud from the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, to symbolize the lowest points in life. While the white bead represents the high points of life with water from the highest point in the world, Mount Everest.

Lokai is a major hit on social media. From celebrities to everyday people, many have been Instagramming and tweeting about Lokai, resulting in many wanting a bracelet of their own.

“Two years ago I saw the bracelets on the instagram popular page. This made me want to buy one for myself,” sophomore Lauren Hafner said.

The thing that draws the customers in is Lokai’s saying: “Sometimes you’ve hit a low, stay hopeful. Sometimes you’re on top of the world, stay humble.” Many people like the concept the bracelets have created.

Junior Megan Felsch said, “It’s really cool. I like how it’s water from the highest place and mud from the lowest. It’s interesting how they make up the saying.” Senior Livia Schindel added, “I think it’s great that they have the mud and water incorporated into the bracelets. It really helps with the significance of the message.”

Many customers have taken Lokai’s story to heart. Customers buy these bracelets because 10 percent of profits go to charities such as ‘Save the Children’, ‘Susan G. Komen’, and the ‘Cure Alzheimer’s fund’.

“I have the original clear one and the pink one. I bought the pink one because it was in support of breast cancer, and both my grandmothers are breast cancer survivors,” says Felsch.

Many customers will only buy the bracelets off of Lokai’s website. This way there is a guarantee that $1.80 of the $18 bracelet will go straight to charities in need.

Schindel said, “I like the fact that Lokai donates 10 percent of their profits to charities. That’s the main reason why I want to order one.”

The bracelets make great gifts for a friend or family member. By giving them the bracelet it is like saying to them, ‘Everything is going to be ok.’ Many people also share the same interest in them, so they buy the bracelets together.

“My boyfriend and I both own Lokai. We both find the idea behind them interesting, so we both have them. They’re just kind of cool to us,” said Hafner.

Izen designed these bracelets after his grandfather developed Alzheimer’s. He created Lokai for others going through similar issues in hopes to remind them to stay hopeful.

“Life is full of joy and sadness, and we can all relate to its highs and lows. I hope that Lokai will remind you to stay balanced and centered along your journey,” said Izen on his website.