Jerry shares his favorite andeyò memories

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE! Yes we are screaming because we love summer over here and we cannot wait to introduce you to this new series: ANDEYÒ. In creole, the term andeyò means countryside, cities outside of the capital. In Haiti, most of us have many memories of the countryside mainly because we spend days/weeks there during the summertime. No better feeling than leaving the routine of Port-au-Prince, jumping in a car and smiling through the ride. From the big waves in Jacmel, the Citadelle in Cap-Haitian, the greenery of Miragôane or the delicious food in Gelé, the countryside of Haiti is the place for a lifetime of memories.

Enjoy this new series as different people share their favorite andeyò memories.

Happy Summer!

My favorite andeyò city is Jacmel. The things that make it so special during the summer is the activities that they have on the seaside especially lakou new York. My favorite summer memory there is when my daughter had just turned one year old. I wanted to introduce her to life like that and give her opportunities to do fun things fun at a young age. Things that I didn't get opportunity to do myself. During summer, we went to the beach and the river everyday. I held her in the ocean to teach her how to swim and I loved these moments. Everyday we ate different seafoods with plantain or breadfruit and rice. Another great memory is climbing trees to get cacao and mangos

“During summer, we went to the beach and the river everyday. I held her in the ocean to teach her how to swim and I loved these moments.”

— Jerry

The story behind the aluminum message cuff

Back in 2013 we had a jewelry team member who had a pate business in the mornings. I asked her who she bought her chodyè from and if she could introduce me. She brought in a young man, Jeff. Jeff’s father had a chodyè business (traditionally used in Haiti to make large pots for cooking) and had just recently passed away. Jeff had inherented the craft, but at the time he was maybe 19 or 20. I gave him an old bangle I had from Madewell and asked if he could cast it. Little by little we started discovered other techniques and styles he could make with the sand casted aluminum. He then switched to making chodye jewelry full time with a team of his own.

At one point we were experimenting and I gave him a set of letters to try and stamp the bracelets. He discovered how to make them look really smooth and add the black accent. From there, the message bracelets grew.

These Malleable, sand casted aluminum cuff with a message are so loved. Each cuff has a message with a story!

The first one he brought me I believe was “Tout Bagay Deja Byen”, which means “Everything is already well” or “It is well”, a phrase he chose.

“Kite Yo Pale” was inspired by a sticker on the side of the moto of a driver for HDC. I always loved it.

In 2022, a dear HDC friend, Anne-Marjorie introduced a limited edition bracelet with the message “Lavi abandons”. You can click here to learn more about the story behind it

The aluminum team’s motto is “Tèt ansan fè n ou viv pi bèl”, ‘With our heads together, we can live more beautifully”. Learn more about Jeff and his team through this video