I love to barter -and that’s exactly what I did with my friend Urmie for this sponsored post! As always, our aim at Island Effect is to be an excellent, trusty guide for you, so all opinions are our own!
Urmie Persaud is a truly Caribbean woman: born in Guyana and having lived and studied in Canada, there came a time in her life when she wanted to return to a warm climate and a different lifestyle. With a love of art and creating, she determined to set up Caribic Design in Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia’s longest serving ceramics studio
One of Saint Lucia’s early craft businesses, Urmie took Caribic Design through many a hard time when local hotel shops and government did not yet recognise the value of handmade local products. But she persevered and kept on, while pursuing a career as a craft teacher at one of the island’s main secondary schools. And if you happen to meet Urmie at one of the island’s art fairs today, in typical island-teacher style, sooner or later someone will call out affectionately “Miss!”
Urmie listened to her clients, took part in every fair and tradeshow she could and through persistence and prayer, built Caribic Design into one of Saint Lucia’s most successful pottery businesses. Caribic Design has taken Urmie across the Caribbean region and won recognition in both awards and loyal customers.
You can grab yourself a coconut tree mug, a fish or fruit salt’n’pepper set, beautiful platter or quirky teapot. Decorate your Christmas tree with little angels or your fridge with pitons, masks, fish and fruit. All pieces are hand-painted in studio and if you would like to visit, you can. Groups are limited to 6 at a time and you must book an appointment. Caribic Design also accepts special commissions and has produced bespoke lighting fixtures, dinner sets and many other customised pieces.
Find products at (amongst others) Anse Chastenet Resort ,Ladera Resort, Choiseiul Art Gallery, Fond doux Estate ,Sandals Resorts, Madein St.Lucia at Point Seraphine, Memwa de Sint Lisi at Harbour Club and BaywalkMall, Island Craft at Rodney Bay Mall, MeCurator Art Gallery.
Live Mindfully Clothing – Upcycled OOAK ‘slow fashion’ clothing
In 2015, when she retired from teaching, she says “I had lots of paint-splattered teeshirts left over from students and textiles and fashion are my other passions, so I decided to create a clothing line called ‘Live Mindfully Clothing’.”
Taking pre-owned items of clothing, she dyed, painted, stamped and cut them into entirely new unique fashion pieces. She creates her own screen designs using the varnish blocking method, so they all retain the handmade element and a definite individuality even if she repeats a design.
Covered in the colours of Caribbean nature, from soft aquas to bright pinks, these clothes make a statement that embraces both the fun of island life as well as the need to respect the environment and Live Mindfully.
Both Caribic Design and Live Mindfully Clothing are very affordable with prices from about $5 US for pottery and $15 US for clothes.
Contacts
Caribic Design: Facebook
Live Mindfully Clothing: Facebook
758 452 4346 / 758 7151070
urmiep@gmail.com
Middleridge, Sunnyacres, Castries
How to get there
Whether coming from Castries or Rodney Bay/Gros Islet side, turn off at Sunnyacres roundabout and turn in towards Gablewoods Mall. Pass the mall and go straight ahead with the yellow school on your left. Look for a street sign Middle Ridge and follow uphill onto Ridge Drive until you see a wooden house painted green, with a large concrete parking area, Caribic Design is the house to the left with a steep driveway going down. Park at the top on the grass verge, walk down the driveway.
What3Words Address
Click on this What3Words address to be taken straight to the exact spot on the map: https://w3w.co/brick.ambient.villas
Download the What3Words app to be able to accurately pinpoint places – to within 3 metres. Use with your favourite app to get driving directions
Quick Facts
- Handmade Ceramics & Upcycled Clothing
- Open: Monday – Friday 10.00 am to 5.00pm
- Saturday & Sunday on request
- Call or email for appointment.
- Max. people on a visit 6
Leave a Reply