Trade Watch V8 No 3 July 2014

EXPORT PROMOTION

Caribbean Exporters Set Designs on Calabash 2014

Haitian artiste BéLO performing with his band during one of the sets at Design Caribbean

The Design Caribbean delegation at the Calabash Literary Festival in Jamaica

The synergistic collaboration between Caribbean Export and the Calabash International Literary Festival came to fruition with the staging of Design Caribbean over the course of the three day event, which was held in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica from May 30-June 1, 2014. The Design Caribbean pavilion was a major attraction in the festival’s peripheral environment, drawing curious and excited visitors away from the main tent between stimulating readings and talks. The pavilion was fashioned in an unobtrusive, but striking design, which seemed to complement the rustic and beautiful natural environment of Jake’s, Treasure Beach. The Design Caribbean coordinating team from Caribbean Export were on hand to facilitate the exhibited work of the 11 artisans selected from seven territories across the region as well as the performance featured musician, BéLO from Haiti, who performed on the opening night of the Festival. The Calabash Literary Festival has transcended boundaries and transforms itself into the foremost to literary festival in the Anglophone Antilles. Calabash offers a unique combination of striking facades, vibrant and dynamic environment, good food, integrated community activity and the region’s most respected literary talent meeting some of the world’s most respected talent in one place at one magical time of year. It all seems effortless and gloriously synchronic, but it is the result of the strategic planning and hard work of the festival’s founders and organizers since its inception, Justine Henzell and Kwames Dawes. The duo have created a brand, which is synonymous with quality, innovation and true Caribbean style. This brand has come to encompass the other offerings of the settings, namely the food and the craft of some of Jamaica’s most skilled artists. Caribbean Export partnered with the Calabash organizers in order to use this platform to benefit not only local, but also regional craftpersons.

The Agency published an Expression of Interest which was enthusiastically answered by dozens of the region’s finest designers. In the end, the faces of Design Caribbean 2014 were: Barbadian Very Vanita and Avark; Rainforest Pottery and Arawak Leather Craft of Guyana; Hands in Clay and Reve Jewellery and Accessories from Jamaica; Kaj Expressions from Belize; St. Lucian Designs by Nadia; The Dot Miller collection from the Bahamas; and Haitian companies Créations Dorées and Belzeb, with the latter also operating in Grenada. The delegation embodied the spirit that the Calabash Festival represents. The pavilion was a treasure trove of hand-made and exclusive designs and products that would satisfy anyone’s tastes. The products were a true showcase of the region’s abundant natural resources, from semi-precious stones to premiumquality leather. The artisans were not only successful in making record-breaking sales, but also promising connections with potential partners and distributors, which have fuelled their primary goal which was to penetrate new markets. The exhibitors also forged new relationships amongst themselves. They took full advantage of the networking opportunity into create a web of connection that spans the region. There was a spirit of camaraderie, and a collective desire for excellence with made the experience one of a kind for many of the participants. On the completion of the project, the Executive Director of Caribbean Export Pamle Coke Hamilton commented that, “What we have seen this weekend, and throughout the process of Design Caribbean at Calabash 2014, is the power that we hold as creative Caribbean people. We have the power to rivet the attention of people from across the world, and to communicate our story in whatever medium we choose. We are gifted with not only undeniable talent, but also a vision and sense of ingenuity that sets what we make apart from anything else. The artisans of have made these truths clear.” (TW)

9 Tradewatch • The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol. 8 No. 3 July 2014