Made in the Bahamas

Training programs and local artisans work to

preserve the tradition of Bahamian crafts

By Risa Merl

Ever scour the local market for the perfect authentic souvenir only to find the words “Made in China” on the back? Not only is this a let-down for tourists (unless you are indeed in China), but it’s a disappointment for local artisans who could be making an income from selling their own handmade goods. Thanks to the efforts of government organizations and passionate artists, the Bahamas is seeking to change this and ensure that the handicrafts found in the island nation are not only made there, but are of the best quality and created through traditional Bahamian craft-making techniques.
Working to train thousands of Bahamians in the art of local craft-making is the Handicraft Development Department, part of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), a quasi-government organization whose purpose is to encourage the creation and growth of small- and medium-sized businesses.

The goals of the Handicraft Development Department include promoting the craft industry by highlighting unique Bahamian products and decreasing the import market of foreign-made souvenirs and gifts. By setting up training sessions in straw, shell, coconut, and batik/tie-dye craft product-making throughout the Bahamas, the handicraft program has trained more than 1,700 local artisans to date.
They also learn to become entrepreneurs. “We just got back from Mayaguana where we graduated 23 people in coconut shell crafts,” says Donnalee Bowe, BAIC assistant general manager. “They testified to what a difference we have made in their lives. They can take a local resource and now make a souvenir and sell the product and realize a profit.”
It’s not just the government who is working to help locally made handicrafts thrive in the Bahamas. Clare Sands is a Bahamian artisan who is passionate about training and nurturing other Bahamian artists. Starting with the simple desire to open a store selling Bahamian-made goods, she soon found herself traveling throughout the islands seeking the best in handmade crafts. She also traveled to find materials and the best straw artisans to work with in Nassau where she owns a store called The Plait Lady. Located in the Marina Village of Atlantis on Paradise Island, Clare’s store features only goods made in the Bahamas, with a focus on plaited straw.
The art of plaiting exploded in the Bahamas in 1950s and ’60s, then all but died out in the following decades. “Twenty years ago, it would’ve been hard to find Bahamian-made craft here,” Clare says. She is intent on encouraging Bahamian women to practice their craft, and continues to travel to the Out Islands to buy unique handmade goods for her store. “I truly believe in cottage industry. Not only does it provide a source of income for these women, which is very important, but it’s also important to give them a sense of worthiness, that their handicraft is appreciated and worth something to somebody else.”
The straw for the plait is harvested from the top, unopened fronds of the tree while preserving the heart and allowing the tree to live on. “Plaiting is like a braid, but instead of three pieces, in some plaits you have 15 strands, or 23, or 11, or some have seven…it’s amazing how it’s done,” Clare says. “We weave over 25 varieties of plait in this country, each with a name, and it can be turned into almost anything.”
Straw bags and baskets are often the most popular Bahamas-made items. “In Andros, their baskets are fabulous,” she says. “The Andros islanders are descendents from Seminole Indians, and they weave baskets that are watertight.” Besides the quality of their products, Clare has a special trick for picking out the best straw makers.
“You’ll always know a straw person, they are very serene people,” she says. “Those are the ones you head for.”