With their sleek, minimalist design and presence on the wrists of celebrities everywhere, Lokai bracelets have become one of the most coveted fashion accessories in recent years.
But their prices, ranging from $18 to an eye-watering $128, often prompt the question – why exactly are Lokai bracelets so expensive?
The short answer is that Lokai has positioned themselves as a premium, aspirational lifestyle brand. But beyond just smart marketing, there are some meaningful reasons Lokai bracelets command such a high price tag compared to other rubber bracelets.
Let’s explore what’s behind the cost of these unique accessories that seem to be everywhere these days.
Reasons For Lokai Bracelets Being So Expensive
Here is a list of those reasons:
- Building an Exclusive Brand Image
- The Meaning and Symbolism Behind the Design
- Feeding Consumer Demand through Limited Edition Drops
- Giving Back through Charitable Initiatives
- Fostering a Highly-Engaged Community
- The Value of Exclusivity
- Celebrity Endorsements Drive Desirability
- Unique Customization for Every Wearer
Let’s elaborate those reasons.
- Building an Exclusive Brand Image
A major factor in Lokai’s premium pricing is the brand image they’ve cultivated since launching in 2012.
Founder Steven Izen has been masterful at making Lokai feel like an exclusive, elite accessory you need to have.
He’s done this by securing partnerships with high-end retailers like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.
You’ll find Lokai bracelets alongside $300 designer sunglasses and $800 handbags at these stores.
This automatically elevates Lokai as a luxury accessory worth splurging on.
Izen has also leveraged partnerships with major sports leagues and teams like the NFL, MLB, and NCAA to give Lokai mainstream visibility and credibility. If top athletes wear them, fans want them too.
On the celebrity front, Lokai has been gifted to A-listers at the Oscars, Grammys, and other red carpet events. Seeing influencers like the Kardashians rocking Lokai on Instagram gives the brand a cool, exclusive vibe.
This strategic positioning as a high-end, aspirational accessory is central to justifying the bracelets’ premium cost. When people buy Lokai, they’re buying into a lifestyle and status symbol as much as the product itself.
- The Meaning and Symbolism Behind the Design
But it’s not just slick marketing driving Lokai’s prices. The bracelets are also designed to inspire and motivate wearers through symbolism.
Each Lokai bracelet contains a small amount of water sourced from Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth, and mud from the lowest point, the Dead Sea. For founder Steven Izen, these elements represent the highs and lows we all experience in life.
The idea is for the bracelet to serve as a reminder to find balance through life’s peaks and valleys. Staying humble and hopeful no matter what you’re facing. This philosophy deeply resonates with Lokai’s fanbase.
Having these symbolic natural materials sealed within the silicone bracelet makes it feel special and meaningful. Lokai has effectively made the bracelets represent far more than just a typical fashion accessory.
This deeper significance adds intangible value that helps rationalize the higher prices for many customers. They’re not just buying a bracelet, but rather a message they want to be reminded of each day.
Also Read: This Is Why Erimish Bracelets Is So Expensive.
- Feeding Consumer Demand through Limited Edition Drops
Lokai has also leveraged the power of limited edition bracelets to manufacture scarcity and drive demand. They frequently collaborate with major brands, charities, sports leagues, entertainment properties, and nonprofits to release special capsule collections.
Recent examples include team bracelets for every NFL franchise, a Black Panther edition, multiple Disney-themed bracelets, a Fortnite design, university bracelets, and many other limited collabs.
These exclusive bracelets are only available to purchase for short periods of time before selling out.
This FOMO-inducing marketing strategy works brilliantly to create buzz and urgency to buy around every limited drop.
By their nature, these capsules command significantly higher prices, usually in the $35-$128 range. But for fans of the associated brands and causes, the inflated costs are justified to own a rare, collectible Lokai collab.
The company is continuously dreaming up new limited edition concepts, giving buyers a reason to keep coming back and growing their Lokai collections. The strategy keeps the brand culturally relevant while boosting profits.
- Giving Back through Charitable Initiatives
Importantly, some of the money from every Lokai bracelet supports charitable endeavors, which further helps rationalize the higher pricing.
For standard Lokai collections, 10% of proceeds go towards WE Charity, which provides resources and education programs to underserved global communities.
The specialized limited editions donate up to 50% of sales to relevant partner charities. For example, the Fortnite Lokai raised money for gaming-focused nonprofits, while collegiate Lokais support university scholarship funds.
This giving back element let’s buyers feel their purchase provides societal value, not just personal accessorizing. The charity component makes parting with $20+ for a Lokai an easier sell. When purchases make an impact, higher prices become more tolerable.
- Fostering a Highly-Engaged Community
Lokai has also built an incredibly devoted community amongst its fans who are deeply connected to the brand’s mission and eager to support it.
The company has done a phenomenal job nurturing this audience across social media channels. Founder Steven frequently pops into user-generated Facebook groups to directly interact with loyal Lokai lovers.
These authentic personal connections make fans feel like they’re part of the Lokai family. They buy into the brand holistically, not just the bracelets themselves.
This fosters a willingness among the core community to pay higher prices, because they feel good about supporting a brand aligned with their values. They trust in Lokai’s vision, and the bracelets take on deeper meaning.
When consumers feel truly emotionally invested in a brand, they will swallow premium pricing to stand behind that brand’s purpose. Lokai has succeeded in developing those bonds.
Also Read: This Is Why Pura Vida Is So Expensive.
- The Value of Exclusivity
Finally, for many buyers the elevated pricing itself makes Lokai bracelets more desirable.
The high cost adds to their perceived exclusivity.
For the fashion-forward and status-conscious, sporting a $128 limited edition Lokai band allows them to signal they’re “in the know” about the latest trends.
The high price contributes to the brand’s premium positioning.
Among younger demographics especially, the social clout of wearing an on-trend Lokai is worth the inflated cost to stand out from the crowd. When demand outpaces supply for hot limited collabs, buyers feel the pinch is justified.
The reality is, for superfans, the bracelets’ monetary value becomes almost irrelevant in light of their emotional and symbolic value. Lokai enthusiasts are happy to pay more for these meaningful accessories.
- Celebrity Endorsements Drive Desirability
Lokai has landed some high-profile celebrity endorsers like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and Justin Bieber. Having huge stars as brand ambassadors makes Lokai even more aspirational.
Seeing your favorite musicians and athletes wearing Lokai bracelets on social media creates a strong desire to emulate them. Their influence as tastemakers contributes majorly to sales.
These big names won’t promote just any brand. So having them repping Lokai adds credibility and prestige. It’s social proof that Lokai is a hot, fashionable accessory.
Celebrity co-signs allow Lokai to further justify premium pricing. If customers are eager to copy the style of their favorite celebs, they become more willing to swallow the high costs.
- Unique Customization for Every Wearer
Another reason some fans happily pay up for Lokais is the customization element. Wearers can stack multiple Lokai bands together in different patterns to reflect their unique personalities.
With standard Lokai collections plus constantly changing limited editions, the company gives devotees endless options to mix and match.
Creating their own personalized Lokai stack let’s buyers feel their look represents their individuality. This gives the bracelets much more meaning than an off-the-shelf accessory.
When customers feel a deeper connection to a product because they configured it themselves, higher prices seem fair. The customization makes each Lokai one-of-a-kind.
Between chasing rare collabs and styling their own signature Lokai stacks, fans find value in building a collection over time. This makes the bracelet’s costs easier to justify.
Also Read: Reasons For Chan Luu Bracelets Being So Expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Lokai bracelets are unique because each one contains actual water and mud elements from the highest and lowest points on Earth, symbolizing life’s peaks and valleys. The sleek design and aspirational branding also make them a coveted accessory.
Yes, Lokai bracelets feature actual water sourced from Mt. Everest and mud from the Dead Sea sealed inside the silicone band. This core design element gives them special meaning.
With proper care, Lokai bracelets can last several years. But very active wear or chemical exposure can shorten their lifespan. Lokai offers a 90 day limited warranty against defects, but no lifetime guarantee.
If the bracelet breaks due to a defect within the first 90 days, Lokai will offer a one-time free replacement. Beyond wear and tear issues, they are not obligated to replace damaged or lost bracelets outside of the initial warranty period.
Wrapping Up
There’s no denying Lokai bracelets are expensive relative to other rubber band bracelets. But the brand has been extremely intelligent in providing justification for the substantial price tags.
Between injecting the bracelets with meaning, manufactured scarcity tactics, giving back initiatives, leveraging exclusivity, and fostering a devoted community, Lokai has made their cost tolerable for loyal followers.
While not cheap, for fans the bracelets deliver profound emotional, inspirational, and social value that makes them worth the financial investment. As long as Lokai culture stays hot, buyers will likely continue swallowing the high sticker prices.
For those truly invested in the Lokai lifestyle and ethos, the elevated prices are acceptable to be part of the community. Lokai has made their bracelets much more than just fashion.
And for devotees, that’s worth every penny.