Bring The Caribbean To Your Door with Luxury Fashion & Home Brands at PAPAIŸO
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DIANE VILLADSEN // CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MICHA ALLEYNE
PAPAIŸO was founded by Micha Alleyne, a marketing and brand strategy expert with over a decade of experience working with global brands, including Twentieth Century Fox in California, where she now resides.
In 2019, Micha founded PAPAIŸO, a California-based startup that provides brand strategy, technology, and logistics solutions purpose-built for the Caribbean luxury market. In 2020, her company launched an online discovery platform, papaiyo.com, as a key part of PAPAIŸO’s offering. Today, PAPAIŸO has relationships in eight Caribbean islands, including Trinidad, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, and has secured some of the region’s most iconic brands. PAPAIŸO’s marketplace will be the first marketplace to enter the industry with an emphasis on Caribbean artisanal luxury.
Micha started PAPAIŸO as an ode to her dear father, a Caribbeanist and pioneering linguist who modeled a profound sense of Caribbean pride. The name PAPAIŸO is actually a spin on a Trinidadian slang, “papayo”, that she would often hear her dad use growing up. It means “Wow!” PAPAIŸO was also born out of a desire to add more diverse perspectives to the global luxury industry. In this issue, Micha shares a few of the luxury Caribbean brands now available on papaiyo.com.
OCHIE
JAMAICAN - TRINIDADIAN ROOTS
Taking its name from Ocho Rios -- a quaint beach town on the north coast of Jamaica -- the Ochie brand is inspired by all of the islands scattered like emeralds across the aquamarine expanse of the Caribbean Sea. The brand speaks to the wanderlust at heart with a line of swim and resort wear that mixes the whimsical spirit of the islands with the captivating allure of Lisbon, where the founder now resides. SHOP OCHIE HERE
MEILING
TRINIDAD
Based in Trinidad and Tobago, Meiling is amongst the most renowned designer labels in the Caribbean. With a legacy that spans decades, Meiling has dedicated her career to bringing a Caribbean perspective to the global fashion industry, as well as to mentoring a new class of emerging designers. With a meticulous eye and impeccable taste, Meiling uses a mixture of texture and organic fabrics, along with her signature hand-stitched details, to bring her pieces to life. SHOP MEILING HERE
THE CLOTH
TRINIDAD
Established in the 80s in Trinidad and Tobago, The Cloth by Robert Young is considered a staple for Trinidadian fashion. Commonly referred to as an artist working with clothing, Young is known for his clean-cut, elegant, and innovative pieces. His work focuses on tackling issues pertaining to social justice and equity. From Caribbean folk tradition to the spirit of the Caribbean revolution, Young fuses his delightful designs with the essence of his activism and artistic vision to foster social change in his community and beyond. SHOP THE CLOTH HERE
TOUCH BY VLS
JAMAICA
Established in Jamaica, Touch By VLS by Victoria Silvera is the definition of Caribbean Modernism meets whimsy. Their current body of work, the Urchin Collection, is an expressive ode to nature, extending from the depths of the sea to your tables, walls and ceilings, creating a magical world of color and contrast, texture and edge. The studio is tucked away in the cool hills of Stony Hill, right outside of the iconic Kingston City. The brand uses techniques that include handmade ceramics sculptures, lighting and crockery, 3D slip trailing, hand carving, silk-screened decals, and multimedia additions. One of the leading brands in ceramics, Touch By VLS has developed a cult following of adorers across the island. SHOP TOUCHED BY VLS HERE
JENNY POLANCO
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Jenny Polanco (1958-2020) was a Dominican fashion designer, mother of two, entrepreneur and trailblazer, who achieved international acclaim and success throughout a career that spanned almost 4 decades. Her namesake label is one of the most treasured brands in the Dominican Republic and across the Caribbean. Jenny Polanco defined her own space in the fashion industry with a sophisticated vision of Caribbean chic that in her own words established “a fluid dialogue between classic avant-garde style and essential elements from my region”. SHOP JENNY POLANCO HERE
CS BEACHWEAR
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CS Beachwear by Dominican designer, Carolina Socías, is a beautiful line of beach and resort wear. Based in the Dominican Republic and inspired by her Dominican and Colombian heritage, the CS Beachwear universe is full of diversity, colors & spirit. Through the brand’s collections, Socías aims to create pieces that have emotions, and she gathers much of her inspiration from the treasure trove of Caribbean tales that she was raised listening to. The use of elements from the sea and hand-embroidered pieces bring a conversation of the designer's Colombian background and experiences living in Colombia. SHOP CS BEACHWEAR HERE
CARA DE PLANTA
MEXICO
Cara De Planta is a family of artisans based in Mexico that have developed a cult following of plant lovers totally enamored with their adorable face-shaped clay pots. The brand makes other functional pottery pieces, such as face-shaped coffee cups and their line of “cara de mezcal” shot glasses used for drinking Mezcal -- Mexico’s heritage spirit. SHOP CARA DE PLANTA