The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

ALL she needs is a creative concept, a pile of newspapers, Elmer’s Craft Glue, paint and a little time. With those elements, Bahamian accessory designer Yvette Rolle can create a work of art to be worn for any occasion.

Even though the process is time consuming, taking six to eight days to complete, Ms Rolle said it is a job that fuels her passion.

In an interview with Tribune Entertainment, Ms Rolle said she has always made a hobby of creating things. Putting her talent into making designs and costumes for Miss Commonwealth Bahamas 1984, she said her work came out on top as the contestant won both the crown and best costume. She also had the chance to play a part in designing for Miss World, Miss Caribbean World and Miss Bahamas.

“My 17 year old daughter Lornai said for many years, ‘Mommy, you always making things and giving it away, let’s start selling them.

She would always come up with creative ideas or objects and say, ‘What do you think you could do with this?’ When the piece was finished coincidently, she always had a function or party to attend, but the pieces almost never came back home. She has encouraged me for many years to start a business. I never thought of it as a business seriously until I could not find a job,” said Ms Rolle.

Her line of jewellery made from old newspapers is called Recycling. The business is a true “family affair”, she said.

“Our only regret is not having started years before. I am self taught, some people are naturally gifted, a tertiary institution may validate it with a degree of certification, but there is a satisfaction that the only paper you want to see is money and more newspapers to create more products,” said Ms Rolle.

“(We chose the name) mainly because of the newspaper we decided to use. We started to look around to see what we can use to make jewellery, so we decided to recycle things and products such as newspaper, to make our jewels. It has been going crazy, people love it,” said Ms Rolle.

Depending on the design, Ms Rolle said she uses a wide variety of complementary materials including sisal rope and shells.

“There are twenty two different products we use in our jewellery line including fish bones, pink sand, snail, whelk and conch shells, pine cones, banana leaf, coconut leaves, bark, tree trunk and the fruit from the Madeira tree. This is where project and time management comes in. You must always have something at different stages of the production line,” said Ms Rolle.

Ms Rolle said she thought the hardest part of the fashion business was getting started, but that is not the case as now it seems to be keeping up with the demand.

“Recycling may have a wide variety of pieces, but Ms Rolle said she has a favourite piece of her own.

“Two large bracelets with a small one in the middle, it’s a definite conversation piece. They are over sized and very obvious. The main question being asked about them often goes; are they heavy, what are they made from and where can I find them?” said Ms Rolle.

Her answer: “They are light as a feather”. Starting Thursday, her work will be available in the NAGB gift store.

This season, Ms Rolle said she is noticing that “going natural” seems to be the most popular fashion choice.

“It seems that Bahamians have now embraced their ethnicity and their African heritage. The jewellery line will fit in easily because it looks tribal and ethnic,” said Ms Rolle.