Urban Vine Media

Supporting Jamaican Artisans, Artists, and Artistes in the Gift-Giving Season

’Tis the season where you receive your pay a bit early, and you’re more than likely in the business of buying gifts—or preparing to receive. We’re in a new age, where fast fashion is the order of the day, and the glamour of a gadget must be included in every conversation. And all of this is fine. Truly. Except it has left a huge gap in the market as it relates to artisans, artistes, and other creatives who rely heavily on the support of their community.

And no, I couldn’t be telling anyone to take up all their money and buy paintings, pottery, and indie books (unless you definitely want to, of course). But surely there’s room for even a handmade bracelet in your Christmas hamper. A little something made by human hands still counts.

If you’re wondering where you can find gifts that are made by Jamaicans—things created with heart and intention—then this is a good place to start.

1. Your Hometown
Most communities have a local painter, photographer, or a girl who sells handmade handbags or a man with his dubplate that he worked on all year.  Before I send you to all the shops in Half-Way Tree, I’ll say this first: support the people right where you are. Chances are, they’re closer than you think.

2. Kingston Creative
If you visit the Kingston Creative page on Instagram, @kingstoncreativejm, or their website at http://www.kingstoncreative.org, you’ll see a wide range of local artisans featured there—many of whom you can support directly. They also host a quarterly Art Walk, where creatives set up booths and display their work for sale. Yes, the most recent one already passed this Sunday, but their page continues to feature the artisans who were present, and many of them are still very much open for business.

3. Local Craft Markets
Jamaica also makes space for a myriad of craft markets, with some of the most notable being in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Kingston. That said, there are several others scattered across the island, each one offering its own mix of craft, culture, and creativity.

4. Things Jamaican
Things Jamaican is another space where many local talents house their goods. They’re available online at http://www.thingsjamaicanshopping.com and in person at Devon House on Hope Road in New Kingston. You’ll also find them at the Norman Manley International Airport and at their corporate location within the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) on Camp Road in Kingston. Things Jamaican is an initiative of the JBDC, an organization known for nurturing Jamaican entrepreneurs and helping to keep the business sector alive—especially as it relates to MSMEs.

And when all else fails, ask your friends and relatives on social media to share links to Jamaican artisans. One post can go a long way.

Christmas ah come, and everybody wants their ‘lama’—including those building their livelihoods through creativity. Support them too.

K L Williams
Writer, Urban Vine Media