Caribbijou's jewelry is a celebration of Caribbean culture, history, and environment. Each piece tells a story, making a statement not just in style but in substance. Our fusion of traditional motifs with contemporary design techniques makes it accessible and easy to appreciate. It's a reflection of the Caribbean's rich history, vibrant culture, and natural wonders. Our jewelry, steeped in meaning and crafted with care, offers a beautiful means of connecting with the enduring legacy of the Caribbean.
The design process at Caribbijou involves capturing the natural spiral design of the conch shell and turning it into wearable art. For instance, the 'Bahama Breeze' necklace features a pendant that represents the conch's spiral and is crafted in polished gold that is reminiscent of a Caribbean sunrise. Meanwhile, the 'Trinidadian Twilight' earrings mimic the curvature of the conch shell and are hand-crafted using 100% real silver that reflects the vibrant energy of the Caribbean in the twilight.
Product pictured: Conch Shell Caribbijou West Bangle
Caribbijou's commitment to sustainability is not just limited to their design philosophy. They are actively involved in marine conservation initiatives, recognizing the importance of preserving the natural habitats from which their inspiration is drawn. This approach is in line with modern Caribbean attitudes towards environmental conservation, where the focus is on sustainable living and preserving the natural beauty of the region.
In summary, Caribbijou's collection is more than just a tribute to the conch shell; it's a reflection of the Caribbean's rich history, vibrant culture, and dedication to preserving its natural wonders. Our jewelry, connected to longstanding culture and crafted with care, offers a modern way to connect with the enduring legacy of the Caribbean.
]]>Costume designer, storyteller, educator, artist - the list of occupations and passions that make up the life of Ayodhya Ouditt is impressive - and growing.
Caribbijou had the privilege of virtually meeting and interviewing Ayodhya recently, as he played a crucial role in our latest design campaign. More specifically, Ayodhya was the chief visionary and costume designer behind Caribbijou’s set of Carnival-inspired costumes, made for the occasion of the photoshoot and aforementioned marketing campaign.
We have included some of the conversation between Ayodhya and one of our marketing directors, Mitchell Ringness, below for you to enjoy:
Mitchell: So first off I’d like to thank you Ayodhya for taking the time to join us today, we’re really looking forward to learning all about the in’s and out’s for putting together the incredible costume work that you do. Could you possibly start by giving us a short summary of the process, and what difficulties you faced for making these costumes? Who helped you, what materials you used, etc?
Ayodhya: Yes of course, so I took it to these guys who are professional mask makers. They did phenomenal work in terms of fabricating the costumes, making all the different parts. We went and we found all the materials ourselves, they measured everyone’s proportions, etc., it was a very long prototyping process.
Mitchell: How long roughly did it take from beginning to end?
Ayodhya: It took a couple months because everybody was doing this outside of their existing day jobs. I had this stuff designed pretty early on. I had the drawings done pretty quickly. That maybe took a couple of weeks, as it was three costumes that Caribbijou wanted. They did everything from wire bending to measuring models to creating different pieces. It's a lot of really intricate work because my designs were very intricate. But it did take a long time. No matter how much time you budget for it. There's so many different roadblocks and things to work out. And like I’ve mentioned, this is something that people are doing outside of their primary work. That was a challenge because they live like, at the other end of the island. and then we also had to measure everything to make sure that money and materials were spent properly. Everyone was constantly informed.
Mitchell: It seems like for a very good reason. Like I said, everything did turn out so great. And I think the costumes are absolutely what set it apart. I've been checking out your Instagram lately, I just have to say you're an incredible artist. The drawings here, going all the way back, are unique. There's so much detail, so much emphasis on the main characters figure, whether it's a human or some kind of deity or other sort of character. I would love to learn more about that background as well, because it seems that you're a multimedia specialist here, working with paints, pencils, and much more.
Ayodhya: Thank you. I have been fortunate enough to work on many different types of projects that require different media. So sometimes it's kind of like somebody wants me to do a mural, other times someone wants me to do concepts for illustrations, or for a nominated series. That's actually something I'm working on right now. Stage them, help them develop their characters. Sometimes it will be animation. I've done some very loose animation in the past. So I've had the opportunity to do lots of different types of books in many different media from that. And even in carnival. I've done the illustrations, the concepts, but for really, really huge costumes. We have these really big costumes called Kings and Queens. If you look up Carnival King and if you just google Carnival King or Carnival Queen, you'll see what it looks like. So I hired a couple of people to do the concept for one of those and I actually won. So that was really cool. Other work I’ve been doing has been looking a lot more like deities or concepts or maybe like a game or a final fantasy or avatar or something like that. That's kind of my passion. And the personal work that you see up there (on my Instagram) is all from one project that I've been building for, like, two decades. So I'm trying to finish that right now, but within the next to say, five years, I want to be able to actually publish it. So that's something epic that I'm doing.
Mitchell: That actually leads into my next question. It sounds like it’s been a journey of you finding your style and working on these passion projects. Is the work with the deities probably one of your favorite topics or themes then that you get excited to work with?
Ayodhya: Yeah so anything to do with mythology, contemporary mythology, and fantasy. That's just something that immediately gets my attention so any client that kind of taps into that, it's going to be a project that I enjoy.
Mitchell: Where then do you get a lot of your inspiration for that work?
Ayodhya: I say it comes from everywhere. But I grew up reading mythology. And then carnival itself is its own mythology because we have carnival. People think of carnival, all the hot women and the bikinis with lots of beads and feathers like Mardi Gras. But there's a lot of mythology that goes into it because we have different characters traditionally that people would perform in carnival, and so the costumes are really based around that. So mythology is all around us. I mean, like when children go to the movies now, they obsess with heroes. But there's also contemporary mythology all around us. I'm just really interested in the way that those kinds of stories and archetypes continue to be relevant to us.
Mitchell: Right! Very amazing. I was just thinking here it seems like you have a lot of opportunities or paths that you could pursue based on your experiences and passion for creation. Where do you see your future? Do you see yourself going down the same path for a while of being kind of multimedia creator? Or do you see yourself maybe making more of a niche or, like, trying to get into something new? Or where do you see your future in the next couple of years?
Ayodhya: I think right now I'm really trying to focus on expanding, but I'm actually also an art teacher. Right now I'm trying to expand that online as well. So teaching, creating art courses so that I can have more of a kind of a global impact here. So I'm trying to set up a channel, and half my course is available online. So that's one thing, but then in terms of this type of work, whatever project is fascinating and also sustainable is something that I would happily do. And my hope is to be able to just have projects like Caribbijou, and at the scale of that. It was a very good project and it was well funded. We had a good budget, we were able to work with the deadline, it was planned long, long in advance. So it was really a great client. As long as I can get projects like that, whether it's in costume design or whether it's something else, that's really what I want to do. Right after Caribbijou actually, I was approached by another group to do some costumes for some dancers for a theater. So that's very exciting.
Mitchell: Freedom is really just what you're searching for then, and being able to try different things, not let a budget hamper the creativity, and-
Ayodhya: You said the magic word - freedom. Absolutely.
Mitchell: Do you have any words of advice for anybody that wants to follow the creative path? I know there are a lot of routes to take, but I think your personal experience here is very interesting and I think a lot of people could look at your work and resonate with it. I think that makes it very special.
Ayodhya: Thank you. I think if you really want to pursue a creative profession and you also want to be successful in that area - I don't even consider myself really successful yet, I'm still building my career - but if you want to be successful, you have to both understand what really makes you special and what you can do better than anyone else. And then you've got to train. But you will also have to pay attention to everything that's happening. What are the industries? Where are people most likely to be interested in your work, or your skill set, and how you use the tools that exist? I do a lot of my work digitally now. There's all of this stuff with AI art that's going on, and that's never going to go away. So we have to adapt, right? You just have to adapt and keep finding ways to utilize the tools around you to maximize your own creativity.
Mitchell: Wonderfully and beautifully said. Yeah that AI stuff is pretty crazy, though, huh?
Ayodhya: I'm excited to try it because I'm going to feed it in ways that it will produce maybe an under-painting or generalist image or something. And you can use it to sample your own work. So I can just feed it my work and just do sketches in my own style and then I redirect how it works. It's not going away anytime soon and it's going to be a part of the whole industry now. All industries, really.
Mitchell: Well I’m glad that you're adapting, and that you're going to be using it to your advantage. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to talk a little bit about yourself, and I am so glad we could share the wisdom from a creative mind that’s been on the grind for nearly two decades now. We greatly appreciate all your hard work and dedication to your craft, and we here at Caribbijou look forward to continue watching your journey. Thank you Ayodhya, take care.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
The production team consisted of Sam Mollineau and Lari Richardson — who did the wire-bending, sewing of the fabric pieces, structure, assembly, and decoration — as well as Basil Dickson who did the amazing airbrushing work.
The photos themselves were the work of Jordan Lum Hung, fashion photographer and creative director.
jlh.perspectivs | ayodhya.ouditt | caribbijouislandjewelry |
Bangles can be worn by both baby girls and boys. Please note that while they are aesthetically beautiful, it is very important to take precautions when considering the safety of your baby. Some metals can cause irritation to your child’s skin, oftentimes resulting in a rash. We use 925 sterling silver and 10K gold for our jewelry, ensuring that whatever touches your baby, it will be of the highest quality. We recommend supervising young children while wearing jewelry in addition to avoiding periods of wear.
Bangles have been a staple in cultures across the globe dating back to 2600 B.C. The rise of bangles specifically in West Indian cultures can be attributed to the slave trade era. The bangles were originally used as a form of currency during this era and then afterwards, evolved into being viewed as a status symbol among women. Now, it is very common to gift babies with bangles so they can have a constant reminder of their heritage. In fact, I often make it a point to gift one to any of my friends who have recently had a baby.
When it comes to babies wearing jewelry, there are many more options outside of just baby bangles. Nowadays, babies are gifted with earrings, necklaces, anklets and more as a form of aesthetic expression. If you aren’t quite ready to gift your baby with a bangle, an earring or anklet might be a great place to start.
As your child ages, it is our hope that Caribbijou items will serve as a reminder of their heritage or as an introduction to our beautiful Caribbean culture.
If you have never heard of Jet beads before, allow us to introduce you. These little black beads are known as “jet” and similarly to coal, they are actually made from fossilized wood. It is important to note that these little gems have low hardness, meaning they can get scratched up relatively easily. Therefore, it’s important to store your Jet bead bracelet, chain or anklet somewhere where other, harder materials will not be able to bruise the beads’ smooth finish. While these pieces are stunning, we don’t create and sell these bracelets, chains and anklets just because of their physical appearance. In many of the islands, these beads are thought to be powerful, offering protection to its wearer from maljo, also known as the “evil eye.” I’ve noticed several analogues for this in other cultures around the world as well.
Jet beads are believed to ward off maljo/maljue and are traditionally given to newborns to protect them from evil eye. In Trinidadian culture (and many other cultures), it is believed that anyone who has received the evil eye will experience illness or misfortune. Babies are considered to be more vulnerable to the effects of maljo, which is why their protection is seen as so important.
Jet is believed to have protective properties, which is why jet was the “gem” of choice for these bracelets. Jet is said to guard whoever wears it from evil, violent or negative energies. Jet beads can also be worn by babies and adults for protection or as a tribute to their island heritage. I can remember, while growing up, when a family member had a new baby, my father would often gift a jet bead bracelet to them for the above-mentioned reasons.
In fashion, black beaded bracelets are popular among both men and women. Since our jet beads are black with either silver or gold, this means that they will pair well with any outfit and any other accessories you might want to wear. We do these in small batches to be sure to check for availability.
If you have never heard of Jet beads before, allow us to introduce you. These little black beads are known as “jet” and similarly to coal, they are actually made from fossilized wood. It is important to note that these little gems have low hardness, meaning they can get scratched up relatively easily. Therefore, it’s important to store your Jet bead bracelet, chain or anklet somewhere where other, harder materials will not be able to bruise the beads’ smooth finish. While these pieces are stunning, we don’t create and sell these bracelets, chains and anklets just because of their physical appearance. In many of the islands, these beads are thought to be powerful, offering protection to its wearer from maljo, also known as the “evil eye.” I’ve noticed several analogues for this in other cultures around the world as well.
Jet beads are believed to ward off maljo/maljue and are traditionally given to newborns to protect them from evil eye. In Trinidadian culture (and many other cultures), it is believed that anyone who has received the evil eye will experience illness or misfortune. Babies are considered to be more vulnerable to the effects of maljo, which is why their protection is seen as so important.
Jet is believed to have protective properties, which is why jet was the “gem” of choice for these bracelets. Jet is said to guard whoever wears it from evil, violent or negative energies. Jet beads can also be worn by babies and adults for protection or as a tribute to their island heritage. I can remember, while growing up, when a family member had a new baby, my father would often gift a jet bead bracelet to them for the above-mentioned reasons.
In fashion, black beaded bracelets are popular among both men and women. Since our jet beads are black with either silver or gold, this means that they will pair well with any outfit and any other accessories you might want to wear. We do these in small batches to be sure to check for availability.
Shop our beautiful jet jewelry here!
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We know that sometimes it can be difficult to shop online for certain items, such as jewelry. Specifically with wrist sizes, we want to make sure that the fit is not uncomfortably tight where it may cut off circulation, or dangerously loose where you may easily lose your favorite bracelet.
Our West Indian Bangles, specifically, are traditionally made in 2 sizes, Adult and Child, and are made to accommodate a wide range of wrist sizes. Caribbijou offers a wide range of sizes so you can match the kind of look you want with comfort of size. We do not recommend bending them or adjusting them frequently, due to potential breakage over time, but they are more flexible when it comes to size.
But for our other bracelets, such as our Braided or Flat bracelets, we recommend ordering the most accurate size. So let’s avoid ordering incorrect sizes, and the hassle of returning or exchanging items via online.
Here are our recommended steps in shopping at our store for bracelets:
Step 1: Printing
Click here for a custom, printable measuring tape!
We recommend printing this off to measure your wrist. When printing, please ensure that the following boxes are unchecked in the print dialogue box to avoid inaccuracy:
If you don’t have a printer or want to avoid printing something off, you can also use a standard- sized piece of paper.
Step 2: Measuring
First, cut out the ruler along the lines. Then starting at the “0,” wrap the tape around your wrist bone snugly against your skin. You’ll need your exact measurement, so mark where the ends of the tape measure touch. Avoid adding or subtracting from this measurement.
If you’re using a standard piece of paper:
Starting from the edge of a piece of paper, wrap the paper around your wrist. Mark with a pen where the paper's edges touch. Then, link up the paper against a ruler and provide your exact wrist measurement in inches.
Step 3: Ordering
When you order with us, enter your wrist measurement online (in inches).
Please keep in mind, when you are ordering a bracelet you measure your exact wrist size, but we do recommend adding half an inch for a comfortable fit!
For our West Indian Bangles, we have a tip for you! If you prefer to wear it open, you can purchase it in a half inch smaller. If you want to wear it wrapped, you can order your bracelet in half an inch bigger and close it in.
*Sizes on our bracelets may vary according to the type of bracelet and what is in stock*
Once you have the correct size in your cart, order and enjoy! We hope you love our jewelry as much as we love crafting it for you!
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Our handcrafted jewelry is a wonderful and unique gift for all of your friends and family. Caribbijou can help you in getting your Best Friend, Mom, Sister, Wife, Girlfriend, Mother-in-law, Niece, or anyone else you love a beautiful quarantine gift. You could even treat yourself a little and practice some self-love by purchasing something for yourself. Our jewelry will be sure to leave a smile on yours or a loved one’s face!
With the current on-going circumstances in today’s world, it can be hard to stay in a positive, or a “glass half-full” mindset. Social distancing, self-isolating and staying in quarantine, can feel isolating and overwhelming at times, and it is taking a toll on everyone. So, it is important now, more than ever, to show how much you love and appreciate the people you care about. A quarantine gift, no matter how small, will be sure to brighten your favorite person’s day.
Sometimes, it is all about the little things in life, even when everything seems as though you may be thinking “why jewelry?” Well, our products at Caribbijou are high quality, fashionable, and made with love. They are also valuable and can be cherished forever, even after the quarantine is over.
A few products of ours that we love, and think will be the best gifts for your loved one, or yourself, are:
Silver This ring is a stunner, although we recommend gifting any of our handcrafted rings. It is a timeless and unique piece, fit for anyone who adores rings.
If you’re looking for a gift to customize, we recommend any of our engravable bangles! Our handcrafted bracelets are a thoughtful gift for anyone. They even come in smaller sizes, for your younger loved ones.
We even have earrings! Our West Indian Humming bird with Extender Bar Long Earring in 925 Sterling Silver are some of our favorite earrings! Coming in Sterling Silver, they are the perfect gift, especially for bird-lovers.
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At Caribbijou, we have baby bangles that are sure to complement any taste in jewelry. From the simple and reserved to a little flashier, you are sure to find a bangle that you will love. Every bangle we make is handmade and therefore every piece is unique. No two are exactly the same! One of our favorites, if we are forced to choose just one, is the 110 West Indian Baby Bangle with Taj Mahal. It is made from high-quality 925 sterling silver and has space to leave a personal message or name with an engravable plate. This baby bangle is marked along the sides with a unique diamante pattern with the two heads are symbolizing the Taj Mahal. The pattern on the wire compliments the pattern on the Taj making a beautiful continuous pattern that the recipient will completely adore.
As much as we love the 110 West Indian Baby Bangle, we have a huge selection of different bangles to choose from. Visit our baby bangle web page and look for the exclusive piece that speaks to you. Our jewelry makes great gifts for any occasion or just as a gift to let someone know how much you care about them!
No problem! West Indian Bangles are a tradition of the Caribbean Islands. They were originally created through the unison of East Indian and African designs. These West Indian Bangles are typically worn in pairs but I price and sell them individually so you can choose how many you want to buy. These bangles are unisex such that both men and women wear thick bangles and thin bangles although men tend to prefer the thicker ones. They are often given to children to remind them of their heritage. Baby bangles are a great way to share culture and history with the next generation!
]]>In fact, myself and my family has expanded on the design, and now carry cocoa pod earrings to match. It’s an important design to me, and it deserves it’s own blog post.
The cocoa pods have a long, varied history in Caribbean culture, so it only makes sense I use this design in the jewelry I create. But even before me, the cocoa pod is one of the earliest designs West Indians used when making their bangles.
And no, it’s not because West Indian’s love chocolate – I mean, we do like it a lot, but the reason behind the bangles is more complex than that.
When most people think about the cocoa pod, they think about the plantation crop during the days of slavery and the oppression; remnants of a horrifying institution that still causes division today.
I don’t see this when I work on the cocoa pod bangles now, and I didn’t see it in the crop when I was growing up in the Caribbean.
Instead, I saw the greenery of my home, and the people who work the land hard each day to make a honest living. I see their smiles as they walk on the streets. I smell rain falling on the leaves of the trees. I only have fond memories seeing the cocoa plantations on my island, and the cocoa pod now reminds me of home.
Part of this is because when I look at the cocoa pod, I’ve always been proud of the way we took something that was oppressive and leveraged it into an economical benefit when given the chance. Even after slavery was abolished, cocoa plantations remained, and it’s the staple crop on may islands.
To me, the cocoa pod represents the tenacity of the Caribbean people, as well as our complex and at times painful history. It shows we overcome, and then we thrive.
It is a point of pride we can do this as a people. It is us.
SHOP COCOA POD BANGLES]]>I grew up watching my father create Bayras, and he grew up watching his own father do the same. My grandfather started our family jewelry business in the 1940s. My father learned from him, and he taught me the same jewelry crafting methods islanders have been using for a century to create the jewelry.
But West Indian Bangles have a much deeper history extending even beyond the decades my family have been hand making them.
For centuries West Indian Bangles have been particularly important for families with newborns. The small silver bangles and gold bangles are often gifted to newborns and young children as a reminder of their West Indian heritage.
Historically, bangles were also used as a form of currency in West Africa, particularly during the slave trade era. Because the pieces were often made with gold or African “red gold,” a form of copper in West African companies.
This largely fizzled out after the slave trade ended, but West Indian Bangles were still worn as a status symbol in both West African and West Indian Islands. The more gold bangles a woman had, the more her husband made, giving the family more clout in the area.
Subsequently, with the movement of Indentured Persons from India and other parts of South Asia, the bangles that you see today were introduced to the Caribbean cultural environment. Adopting local motifs like the cocoa pod and nutmeg further served to cement the iconic status of the West Indies Bangle.
What are bangles used for today? Today bangles are still a common accessory for those who grew up in these areas of the world and for those who didn’t. They’re now seen in sterling silver, gold and other metals and the designs vary as much as the men and women who wear them.
I absolutely love seeing so many people taking the time to learn about West Indian culture and the history behind the jewelry they’re wearing. It gives me pride that the popularity of these beautiful pieces of jewelry has exploded over the years.
I’m also proud to continue the tradition of hand crafting Bayras for my family. Each piece I create reminds me a bit of home, and I hope they help you keep the Caribbean spirit with you at all times.
*Edited for accuracy on 29 June 2020. With thanks to those of you who give us the opportunity to improve.
The steel pan bangle is one of the most important pieces to me personally. Although I love the motifs of the natural plants and environment of our islands, which are incorporated in many of my handmade jewelry, the steel pan design represents music and art, which are central to Caribbean life.
It is a symbol of our people and our culture, which we created as a disenfranchised people reclaiming and making the islands our own post-slavery. This makes the steel pan jewelry empowering in one of the most important ways: creativity.
The steel pan is a musical instrument originally made from old oil drums. It was invented in Trinidad, and the distinctive sound of a steel pan band has become a symbol around the world of island life.
In 1980, my father moved back to Trinidad from the United States after serving in the Vietnam War. He noticed other jewelry-makers had steel pan earrings and pendants. My dad had the idea to put this design on a bangle, and the Caribbijou steel pan bangle was born!
Today, I carry on the tradition of making steel pan bangles in both silver and gold, in 110 gauge and 150 gauge. I also make hand-braided bangles with this design, as well as earrings and pendants. Recently, my dad made me a steel pan ring. I love this ring so much, I have started re-creating it for my customers.
The steel pan represents something that brings us all together as Island people. It reminds us that we are talented, gifted people, not bound by our past, with massive potential to create our own destinies. I hope that you will also love the steel pan jewelry as much as I do.
]]>This option can make your life easier and can ensure no chemicals are used that could tarnish the jewelry further.
However, if you’re committed to cleaning jewelry yourself, I've laid out the steps for our favorite cleaning methods for both sterling silver and gold jewelry.
There you have it! Your jewelry should glitter like the gold it is after this treatment.
Our jewelry is .925 sterling silver, as is most sterling silver jewelry you’ll find, so we’ll be sharing instructions on how to clean that level of silver purity.
First, we’d recommend trying dish soap and water to clean and polish your sterling silver jewelry.
Simply run your jewelry under warm water, add a few drops of dish soap (we’ve found Dawn dish detergent works best) to a soft-bristled toothbrush, and scrub gently.
If you notice this doesn’t work, you can always try ramping it up a notch with baking soda.
If you notice these cleaning methods not working, I'd recommend going to see a jeweler and getting tips from them or getting the jewelry professionally cleaned.
This West Indian Earring is a design that my dad came up with recently and sent a few examples for me to try to make. Even in his retirement he continues to design and make new items.
He used the same pattern we put on our round and flat West Indian Bangles on the outside of the earring and highlighted each diamante on this Calypso pattern with hand placed bright cuts once all of the soldering was finished.
After rounding the wire he soldered the small charm hook onto the large hoop with the West Indian Charm. In this example it is a Small Humming Bird charm.
Next, the safety catch was fashioned and fixed to the earring completing the process.
Let me know what you think about this item! Is it something I should continue to make and expand on? Do you like it and would you wear it? What specific charms would you want in your earring?
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