The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is pleased to announce that eleven (11) participants from nine (9) countries will join the Design Caribbean stand at  the Calabash Literary Festival from May 30^th-June 1^st. The stand, which will showcase the work of some of the region’s finest craftsmen, will be a key standing feature of the festival which is scheduled to take place at the picturesque Jake’s Hotel, Villas and Spa  in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

The Calabash festival not only features some of the most prolific and revered writers from the Caribbean and around the world but has continuously provided an outlet for highly-skilled craftsmen and women to showcase and sell their products in on a highly visible platform to its exponentially increasing audience. This year the festival will be expanding it’s offering by playing host to Design Caribbean with the brands Belzeb Incorporated from Grenada; Very Vanita, and Avark from Barbados; Rainforest Pottery and Arawak Leather Craft of Guyana; Hands in Clay and Reve Jewellery and Accessories of Jamaica; Kay Expressions from Belize; St. Lucian – Designs by Nadia and Haitian Creations Dorees, all being part of the Design Caribbean pavilion.

“We are thrilled not only by the invaluable support from and collaboration with Caribbean Export, but the opportunity to fully showcase regional artisans alongside local craft and fashion.  The Design Caribbean pavilion will be a fitting addition to the GLOBALISHUS offering at Calabash” expressed Justine Henzell, producer of the Calabash International Literary Festival.

“The Caribbean’s artistes possess an overwhelming wealth of talent making it an extremely difficult deliberation process when we can only support a limited number.  This particular staging of Design Caribbean provides the artisans with exposure to an international audience and also much welcomed media attention” commented Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director at the Caribbean Export Development Agency

Design Caribbean at Calabash provides an opportunity for the artisans to engage directly with their target audiences and allows for artists to be represented under one umbrella but to market themselves individually as brands. The consumer gains a comprehensive sense of the variety of offerings available in the region and the opportunity to delve more deeply into their particular areas of interest.