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Buyer beware if you want to buy stuff made in JA.
I bought a crochet rasta hat at Waves park last week, only to be devastated when I later found a small tag saying "made in China". One reason I come here is to support Jamaicans, but I'm guessing none of that junk is made here.
The tip-off should come when you realize that literally all of the vendors have the same stuff. The exception are carvings, but even a lot of those are mass produced.
i understand how ufeel frank....but look at it this way, your still supporting the locals by simply buying from them. But as tah said, if you really want something made in jamaica your best bet is probally carvings or necklaces....and of course dirty bananas....the best ones i ever had were made in jamaica!
A lot of the 'carvings' come from offshore and are simply finished by putting a shoe polish finish on them. For instance the walking canes are mostly the same machine cut sticks and are just finished in Jamaica, not made there. You need to find a good local carver and pay for something custom-made if you want the genuine article.
Fruit is a sure bet.
I live in a tourist city that sells multiple-millions of dollars in junky, trashy, 'souvenir's' annually. The great majority of it; made in China.
Not putting Negril goods or carvings down; just noting that most tourist goods, from almost any city around the world are now made in China or someplace other than
the country in which they are sold. Just be aware.
Tourist crap everywhere is made in China. As is a lot of what we use...... Alibaba?
Pretty sure the subs I purchased were 100% grade A Jamaican :)
If you are looking for local carvings, go see Mason. He is down from Niah's Patties on the beach, just north of Tony's Hut. He does some great work and he is always willing and able to take time out to talk to you.
I had a chat with a local woodcaver ..last reach & let him know that the only way ..to go is ...
ONE of a kind ..
no cookie cutter /run of the mill ..I've seen it 1000 times ...goods
As some of us ..have been to Ja. ...X # of times
I look only for true artisians
& yes, Mason is one that I would put in that conversation .. Coinmon (RIP) ..another
When I started Negril.com back in 1995, there was not a work permit category for Internet businesses. There was not even internet on the island yet so no reason for the category. I had to register the company as a boutique shop that offered "email related services".
http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/behist01.htm
To stock the shop, we went to MoBay and bought wholesale souvenirs at the main craft market there. Boxes were coming off the ship from India at the time and you would "bid" on each box. One vendor purchased a box clearly marked "Jamaica carvings" and when she opened the box in front of all of us, each of the carvings said "Aruba". After about 10 minutes of laughter, she got her money back from the wholesaler, but each box was opened first before bidding resumed.
If you want to really get Jamaican hand made carvings, try places like Dr. Quality and Fay's near Negril Escape. You can place an order and actually watch his progress during your stay. He can even make carvings based on emailed photos. Fay hand makes her jewelry so you can wear a piece of Jamaica home.
But regardless, you are still supporting the local economy when buying any souvenirs, the vendor had to purchase them and you are helping them to support their family. It is the same worldwide, although I would assume Chinese souvenirs are made in China... (grin)
Here's a tip. Don't buy "junk"!
When looking for anything crocheted I look for Isha. She walks the beach and you can watch her working as she walks/talks. She makes whatever you want.
Does anybody know the man that weaves hats from palm fronds? Mrs. Homebrewer had him make one a few years back and wants another one but we haven't seen him in the last few years.
My crocheted swim suite was hand made by Deloris in the craft market. She used her hands to measure my behind. And had it done in three days. 25.00$ u.s. I LOVE IT~~ LOL
I am offended at the use of the word "JUNK"...........I have bought many items and not one was "Junk" just my view.
One persons Junk ...
is anothers treasure
I love the thrill of the "treasure hunt "
You mean my plastic shark tooth necklace was likely made in China? :mad:
The Sandman has some amazing carvings covered in sand and lots of other homemade items. Also will do custom work for you. He is by Niahs patties.
I have an account with a company that makes a good share of the tourist crap that is offered for sale in JA. Wholesale, most 15-20us items are about $3. Hard not to kiss teeth when vendors try to push crap off as being something they made. But ..... The JA vendors make a living selling the stuff the tourist want and it makes the economy I guess better. Sort of sucks though for all the honest vendors that we all know that actually sell handcrafted JA products.
I saw the man that makes hats on Bloody Bay.
Thanks for posting, we'll take a few walks up there next week and look for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by lathomas
Patrick the Lobster Mon! can't beat lobster on the beach.
I have a beautiful hand-made sailcloth hammock made by Seastar's Francine. Came with it's own carry bag, also made of sailcloth.
I define junk to be any of those awful mass produced crochet and cheap jewelry you see at all local stalls. Junk they may be, I would still buy them if I thought they were made in Ja.
We love Courney that sits at the Grand Pineapple. We have taken him pictures of our dogs. He will work on them all week. They are just beautiful.
Dr Quality also does all his own carvings. Go see Fay at his shop in the cliffs.
~Moose
It's probably worse than that. Many jewelry kinds of things are made by indentured servants and their children in Pakistan and India. Modern slavery is as Dickensian as ever. Look for opportunities to purchase from people who you've actually watched work their craft. With a little effort, you just might end up with a piece of genuine Jamaican folk art. Respect --MarbleheadQuote:
Originally Posted by wnyjim
http://realnegril.com/drquality/Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmicMoose
We try to buy something from Quality and Fay every trip. Nice, authentic carvings. Fay will give you a good price - no need to haggle.
Funny story - On our last trip, we had been doing our own West End bar crawl when we decided to stop at Quality and Fay's shop. The Wife was taking her time browsing the selection, when I began to feel the need to relieve myself of the several Red Stripes I had consumed. I asked Fay if could use the restroom and she responded, "Mon, just go out back! This is Jamaica." So, I walked around behind the shop and realized the area is basically an open field with a single bush. I walked over to the bush and proceeded to relieve myself. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spot a grandmotherly woman walking down Summerset Lane, from which I was in full view. You can imagine my embarrassment as I pictured my own grandmother catching me peeing in the bushes. Ahh, good times!
True story: I worked with a lovely Chinese girl who had emigrated to Canada from China. She was returning home for a visit and came to me one day, totally exasperated. "Where do I find gifts or souvenirs from Canada? They're all made in China! I don't want to take those home as gifts!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_frank
I have purchased handmade crocheted items from Isha as well, she does beautiful work. I also have a couple of paintings from Ras Husmo AkA Devon.
My favorite souvenirs are paintings. I have one form Karl Ricketts I like especially.
Well today and tomorrow we are waiting here in New England on an "Arctic Blast" to blow through so reading Negril.com (Thanks Rob) warms me up from the inside out.
I was lucky over my early visits to Jamaica to buy souvenirs that were definitely home made (Jamaican) that I still have including some palm woven baskets, hats, black coral jewelry (before it was protected) as well as other items that I knew benefited the artist. Perhaps in the cities at that time (MoBay, Kingston) there were off shore made products but I can not remember many. There was a guy in Negril that was a wood carver named Sammy who has a stall by the bridge at what at that time was where the craft shops were set up. He was a very talented carver / artist (if he is still around would be in his mid 70's) who was a soft seller who would invite you in for a look, offer a puff and not be up tight if you did not buy. He carved the big African (Rasta) themed face and would finish it with shoe polish for colors. Very nice work. Back in those days US Customs were very suspicious of the large and heavy carvings coming in from JA. A big score in those days for me were 45's that were current hits in JA that rarely made it to the States. I still have stacks of them, bought in Sav and Kingston for like a buck USD. Blue mountain coffee and Appleton rum were rare in the US too.
Enjoy your day, week, life,... wherever you are....
I don't remember seeing mason's shop when I was there last month , did I miss it or has he moved?
Sadly, Mason (and his shop) is no longer there. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Negril1990
Not sure on all of the details. The "Brain Doctor" told us that he now has a little place set up in Green Island that he carves out of and sells his art.
We didn't follow up on that though. I hope he is doing well there.
Haven't seen Sammy in years, but have to agree he is an awesome carver. We have 2 or 3 of his carvings.Quote:
Originally Posted by johng
BTW he was a really good singer too and had a second career doing that, so maybe he's a star now.
Attachment 46931
Wesley's work - craft market - purchase
super nice guy
I purchased this carving from a vendor on the Rose Hall golf course for $US 20 in 1992. I find it quite unique in that this is was the artist's interpretation of a golfer and the golf swing. It seemed like he carved what he observed. Also he has blackened the left hand to represent the golf glove and blackened the parts of the shoes to represent traditional golfer "saddle shoes". He was probably conflicted about the hair and beard and restrained himself and did not give the subject a "full dread". I still call him my "Rasta Golfer" and look on him fondly from time to time for the memories of 1992.
Attachment 46932
Is Mason the same guy as the Sandman who does carvings, with sand from across the island. He was next to Niah's , i have several of his pieces.
I buy a carving from Mason about every other trip, but since I've been there many times, I really don't pay much attention to that stuff anymore. Obviously you want to look at the place of origin.
Fun and cool golf piece. :)