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

Partner Highlight : BONJOU Boutique

September, Higlighting our Partners Month. We are thrilled about this series. Our partners have been such a crucial part of our survival and growth and we don’t have enough words to express our gratitude towards them for their trust. Most of our long term partners have been there from day one or not too long after that, visiting our workshop in Tabarre, spending time with the artisans and getting to know their stories. Beyond the products, we have shared laughter, good times and memories. Throughout the years we have built strong and lasting relationships. We are so proud of them all and are so in love with their work.

Without waiting longer, here are our first guests, Jean-Paul and Alexa from Bonjou Boutique

Jean- Paul and I met in 2010 and, though our communication was minimal + required some charade playing due to our language barrier - we became friends. In 2011 I (Alexa) had the opportunity to be a part of the formation of Wings of Refuge Inc., a non profit that is giving life to families in Haiti through partnering with locally led movements. Jean Paul was then asked to be a part of the Wings of Refuge Children’s Home team a short time later. For over seven years we served alongside Wings of Refuge Children’s Home and were blessed to be a part of the lives of 32 incredible kids (now mostly young adults - which makes us feel old!). Somewhere along the way we fell in love, got married - though we wouldn’t recommend taking the route we took. We faced many uphill battles as a couple due to our cultural barriers, language barriers, opinions of family, friends and coworkers... but we persevered by God’s grace and a few key people in our lives. In 2019 we made the difficult decision to move stateside and in January 2020 we welcomed our sweet baby boy Jayden into the world. To this day, our family still serves as part of the Wings of Refuge Inc. team here in the states with its impact on our lives being invaluable.

We started dreaming up Bonjou Boutique shortly after we got married in 2017.

We knew we wanted to take some of the generosity friends and family showed us at our wedding and invest it back into our Haiti home. We felt the best way to do that would be through a small business that showcased the beauty that comes from Haiti by partnering with social businesses we personally knew, loved and trusted.

Bonjou means “good morning” in Haitian Creole. It’s the first thing we say to each other when we wake up and we love the sense of light and newness it brings! #bonjoucheri

“We created Bonjou Boutique as a space for you to create change through the purchase of socially responsible and ethically made products from this little island we called home for so long. ”

— Alexa

We had been fans of Haiti Design Co. for years - we shopped there, took teams there (for Mona’s famous breakfast burritos and workshop experiences). As our non profit worked towards reunification, HDC gave two of our kids internships. In 2018 I had the opportunity to work for HDC for about 6 months before our family moved. So, of course, in 2021 when we finally decided to turn Bonjou Boutique from a dream into a reality, we had to partner with HDC when we were designing our original collection.

Our Polo Dopp Kit and Lex Toiletry Bag were some of the first pieces I had the opportunity to collaborate with Chandler and the team at HDC on and to this day they are two of my favorite pieces.

Why is shopping ethically important to you?

Shopping ethically isn’t a magical switch you flip one day, they are daily choices we make knowing there are people behind the products we buy. Start small, do your homework and be intentional.

Other ethical brands we love -
@made_global
@papillonmarketplace
@avanticoffeeco

Whether you’re recently engaged, tying the knot, becoming a first time mama, making a house your home, or simply celebrating the season you’re in, we want to bring a little piece of our island home to you.

A few thoughts on our dear Haïti

Hi friends! Many of you have been concerned about the situation in Haiti. Some reach out and send words of encouragement. We are so thankful for this continuous support and are forever grateful for the family that we’ve acquired through these years.

As much as we would love to write this to announce that things are now better and that all is well at our workshop, it is not yet the case. Right now, kidnappings and gang violence are creating an atmosphere of fear and terror. Countless families have been obligated to flee their homes because of non stop gunshots in the area. More privileged ones have been able to flee and start a new life elsewhere. Gas shortages, burning tires, inflation, and overall uncertainty about the future.

Our summer series is dedicated to bringing light in the midst of darkness this summer. This doesn’t mean that everything is always shiny and bright for us. We often experience discouragement. We often feel like things are moving backwards. We often feel exhausted to have to send you these messages with no real good news.

However, we also cannot afford to give up. No matter how difficult things are, it is not only about the brand and products. It is about families, about people who have been able to build their homes through the jobs your support is still creating. It is about the courage of our artisans who go to the workshop as soon as they can to keep the work going. It is about our responsibility to keep Haïti alive no matter how small our contribution is. It is also about the children watching us and being inspired by the way we face today’s challenges.

Life comes with ups and downs. In Haiti, we’ve experienced more downs lately but this wont keep us from doing the best we can with what we have. We also want to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of our heart for all of your support and the faith you put in us. Until we have better news, we will continue to provide quality Haitian made products while sharing the blessings of our day to day.

Caribbean Craft sharing Haiti's colors with the world

Magalie is a woman of too many passions and talents. The CEO of Caribbean Craft has a true love for her county and seeks to CHANGE THE NARRATIVE. Continuously promoting the talents and hidden treasures of Haiti, exposing them to the world. Teaming up with the top motivated designers in and outside of Haiti, the best web designers and marketers, bloggers and writers, merchants and vendors that woman shakes the world to better shape the future of her artisans.

With her driving attitude and no nonsense mindset she is a pillar in the Haitian crafts sector and one that only seems to grow more ambitious and eager to see her country come out of its shell and show its true, vibrant colors to the world. Her favorite saying

“ Haiti might be in your heart but Haiti is in my hand the hands of each and every Haitians”.

Magalie is among these few believers and fighters for a bright future, possible for Haiti and it will be written by its creative minds.

 
It was such a pleasure to have her share these memories with us for the third feature of our series Lavi an koulè! Her vibrant spirit is just what this summer is all about.

Why did you start Caribbean Craft?

Putting people to work is of a paramount importance in the critical task of rehabilitating our struggling country, and we consider it an honor and our duty, as citizens, to participate, at our level.

What is your favorite summer memory as a Haitian kid?

It is so difficult for me to choose just one and hope you will forgive me for sharing my top 3 favorite memories. If I close my eyes and think of my summer memories as a child the first thing that comes to mind is:

the bike rides in les Cayes. With my cousins we would tour the town delivering gallons of milk from my uncle farm. We would spend of course extra time wandering around .

The second is the scary story telling nights were we would all gather and the older kids with some adults will share the stories about the Haitian legends. They would keep us up late at night.

The third is our Sundays at the beach: my parents would take me every Sunday for that ride to the north coast and we would spend the day swimming ad floating in the ocean I also like a little monkey enjoyed climbing the trees and step away, find my solo time and read a book up there on the tree observing the world from above.

What is your favorite fruit/food to eat in the summer ?

The summer fruit that I would look forward to every summer is the KENEP . Like grapes I would enjoy that sweet and sour fruit with that constant fear of swallowing the seeds as the adults would tell us if you do you will die!

What is one thing in your life that keeps you vibrant ?

The joy that everything little things brings me. I am a very passionate person they call me the woman with too many passions and it is true from gardening to hosting, caring for my girls. cooking reading ,yoga , traveling dancing working designing I love every single aspect of my life and that keeps me glowing .

How are you planning to incorporate more moments of joy in your life this summer through your business and daily routine? 

First of all I plan to spend more time with my family. A woman who can keep her family happy and united is a true inspiration now a days. Slowing down and going back to the basics that’s what I will do this summer. I also intend to spend a lot of time finding ways to address the needs of our artisans life has gotten so hard for each one of them that I must find an outside of the box solution to be at service to this community.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THEIR WORK ON INSTAGRAM. DO NOT FORGET TO GIVE THEM A FOLLOW AND SUPPORT BY SHARING WITH FRIENDS!

SAIKA AP VIV LAVI AN KOULÈ

Welcome to another interview of the series Lavi an koulè, a series dedicated to featuring Haitian creatives, entrepreneurs, artists and more; bringing colors to our lives through their work and personality. In order to celebrate summer and it’s colors all season long, we will keep the conversation flowing around joy, Haitian childhood memories, seasonal fruits and everything in between.

Introducing Saika in this Kreyòl piece….

Bonjou, bonswa tout moun! Mwen se Saika, yon kreyatè dijital. Mwen kreye kontni sou janm viv, sa mw wè ki bèl nan jem. Sou rezo yo,mwen rele Saiti ki se yon melanj ak prenonm Saika epi Ayiti. Paske malgre tout bagay, se Ayiti ki fèm. Mwen komanse asepte tit enfliyansè a selman nan lane 2020. Men mw komanse pibliye kontni seryezman en 2016 sou Facebook epi an 2017 sou Instagram.

Kisa ete vle di pou ou?

Pou mwen, ete vle di pi bon moman nan ane a. Menm sim leve an Ayiti kote li toujou fè cho, ete a toujou gon lòt anbyans. Pou mwen ete se pwofite lavi , se kè kontan, se avanti, se yon sezon poum rechaje batrim pou rès ane a.

Ki pi bèl souvni ou genyen de vakans ou?

Mwen gen anpil bèl souvni de anfans mwen Ayiti. Mwen te vreman renmen fè lago, jwe marèl, jwe kay , kawo, ak kouzen m yo epi kèk lòt timoun nan vwazinaj la. Nou te konn renmen envante resèt ak sa nou te gen anba men nou, soti nan chodyè a ki te fèt ak mamit, engredyan Nou pran lakay nou an kachèt ,etc. Nou te renmen fe eksperyans anpil anpil. Preske chak ane Nou konn ale Jakmèl kay matant mwen Meyè. Lotbo a mwen gen souvni jounen plaj yo, bon mango, kokoye ak zaboka ki soti nan pye bwa lakou Nou. Ti mache nan lavil Jakmèl, etc.

Ki fwi ou pi renmen manje nan epòk vakans ete?

Sanm pa menm ezite : mango ak melon. Menm sim voyaje e ke fwii sa yo disponib pandan tout ane a, pou mwen ete se pi bon moman pou apresye frui sa yo. Sa raplem kijan nou te konn itilize po melon a pou n rafrechi figi Nou lel fè cho lem te piti.

Kisa ki ede ou kenbe kè kontan nan lavi a?

Apre relasyon m ak Bondye, se lanati. Pou Mwen se pi bel mèvèy ki genyen. Mwen renmen bote ki genyen nan ti bagay senp yo. Zwazo kap chante, pebwa yo kap danse gras ak van an, tande lapli kap tonbe, solèy la kap kouche etc.

Kijan wap simen lajwa nan lavi ou ete sa?

Nan pase moman kalite ak moun mw renmen. Nan vizite nouvo zòn, nan pase tan nan lanati, nan redekouvri sam deja genyen nan lavim, nan pratike gratitid, nan kontinye cheche e apresye bote nan bagay ki pi piti yo.

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW SAIKA ON INSTAGRAM. DO NOT FORGET TO GIVE THEM A FOLLOW AND SUPPORT BY SHARING WITH FRIENDS!