THE BIRTH OF BENI TONKA

October 21, 2016 Five years ago, I met my family in Trinidad and Tobago for the first time. Rounding the final curve of my 20’s, I arrived on one of the most festive days of the year, Carnival Monday. On display was the grandest and wildest show in the country, perhaps the entire Caribbean. After […]
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that the regional corporations face that may lead them to remove signs before their date has passed, as fallen, outdated signs lead […]
THINKING WITH YOUR HANDS

July 04, 2016 “I wanted to see if an architectural way of making could be developed that reflects the nature of Trinidad Carnival.” In the aftermath of Carnival 2016 in T&T, you might assume that all the 20-something-year-olds would be hung over, recovering or asleep. And while they might have been, Latrelle Rostant wasn’t. 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
THE LONE WANDER

The Designer Island Instagram Profile Series features the work of Caribbean photographers who use Instagram thoughtfully as a means to display their work, show their lives and travels or to make a statement about the Caribbean as they see it. We’re kicking it off today with a profile of Marlon James, a Kingston-born photographer whose work […]
…ONLY THE FOREST IS REAL.

Sometimes in the bush, you find things you did not know you were looking for. Sometimes it’s courage, laughter, wonder or pain. Sometimes it’s seeing parts of yourself that you did not know were even there. Something about walking, climbing, falling, getting up, all surrounded by wet green, not knowing how much further you have […]