FROM FETE SIGNS TO SIGNBOOKS

October 01, 2016 “Hand-painted signs are such a unique and beautiful aspect of our culture. A culture I would like to see continue and thrive. But I also understand some of the challenges that the regional corporations face that may lead them to remove signs before their date has passed, as fallen, outdated signs lead […]

JAMAICAN SUB-CULTURE NURTURES BOTH ART & DESIGN

September 14, 2016 “I wanted to see if an architectural way of making could be developed that reflects the nature of Trinidad Carnival.” The culture, the rhythm, the people, the accents and even the language… Across the Caribbean, no two are the same. And how we experience these unique variables differs even more as a […]

THE MAKING OF TRINIDAD LOOKBOOK

February 26, 2016 “I wanted to talk about local fashionand local brands in a more inclusive way.In a way that would encourage young women like myself to invest in good local fashion.” A cool Saturday morning with fresh fruits, tea, toast and omelets, propped on a couch by the window in clear sight of the […]

ASHRAPH DAHLIN’

September 19, 2015 Nestled almost secretly in the shade of a pink poui tree, on the southwestern corner of Carlos and Roberts’ streets in Woodbrook Port of Spain Trinidad is The Frame Shop. Peeking in through the glass of the large door invites the tingle of excitement throughout your body that can be compared to […]

MENSWEAR THAT SPARKS JOY

May 23, 2015 Fashion especially in the Caribbean has mainly been a female playfield. While menswear designers like Millhouse, Ecliff Elie and a few others have been carving their own niche it’s not generally an area most young fashion designers are attracted to, but in the last 10 years the fashionable man has been making […]

SCULPTORS OF MAIN STREET GUYANA

April 12, 2015 A hot and humid Saturday afternoon, we set off navigating the hustle and bustle of Georgetown’s craziness: a melee of traffic and pedestrians. We were headed to the Main Street Avenue in search of the sculptors I’d passed many a day as a child. Bombarded by the incessant beep of horns – […]

THE DESIGN & ART OF CERAMICS

March 29, 2015 Using clay the way a painter uses canvas, Designer Island 2014 Loves List maker Adam Williams, uses simple forms to describe social and political stories on their surfaces. From the basic forms of collectible cups and wares to the rare allure of sculptured commentary, Adam’s patience, emotion and intent are molded to life, warmed to vibrant […]

BSD LIFE

September 20, 2014 Our Designer Island Instagram Profile Series features work of artists who utilize Instagram as a preferred medium to showcase their work. At Designer Island we are always on the look out for similar minded artists and naturally want to connect, share and chat with them. One of our recent finds is BSDLife, Brendan […]

CREATIVE COLLABORATION & HOME DÉCOR

August 31, 2014 We’re inspired by beautiful things and even more so, we’re inspired by seeing our multi-faceted reflections in those beautiful creations… The beauty of her Caribbean surroundings and heritage inspired interior designer, Toni Suratsingh Crockett‘s, decorative pillow collection. Earlier this month, Toni hosted a gathering of friends and supporters at the Verandah Restaurant, Rust […]

KNITWEAR FOR THE CARIBBEAN

July 27, 2014 In a quiet, little studio in north-west Trinidad, Aisling Camps creates beautiful knitwear for her fashion line, ‘Aisling Knits’. Creative and climate-friendly cottons and bamboo… Engineering elegance into pieces that range from delicately oversized sweaters to edgier silhouettes, it’s knit wear for and from the Caribbean. We talk about her life transitions, her […]