Made In Haiti

The road to recovery in quake-ravaged Haiti is paved with treadle sewing machines.

fraufiber — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:01:32 +0000

Associated Textile Press –

By Christen Pepe – January 12, 2012

While much of Haiti is still struggling to lift itself from the rubble left in the wake of the earthquake, the tailors studios which dot the landscape of Port Au Prince, are piecing the city back together with mending, altering and construction of school uniforms.

Hope in Haiti can be found in Haitians like Jonas La Baze. The 44-year-old tailor is at work in his studio on Rue St Honore, off the Grand Rue in Port Au Prince. He sits at his machine, thinking of the day when he will open his own tailoring school in his hometown of Leogone, the epicenter of the earthquake, which ravaged Haiti in January of 2010.

Today Jonas is working to produce repurposed over-all backpacks, camera cases, aprons, and other items for the brand Made in Haiti, an ethical textile company for the American market. He is dedicated to the possibilities of his treadle machine to rebuild his future and that of his country.

As Haiti develops plans to rebuild, the entrepreneurial spirit found in the small tailoring shops like Mr. La Baze’s are worth investigating and investing in. The other options for jobs in Haiti are the Caracol manufacturing complex. Caracol is part of the “Haiti is open for Business” campaign, supported by Bill Clinton, special envoy to Haiti. This 608-acre manufacturing complex will generate thousands of low paying; sweat shops jobs, owned by non-Haitians. Is this economic development or foreign occupation and slavery?

Hand Made Holiday Sale

fraufiber — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:03:08 +0000

Collections / Fall 2011

fraufiber — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:13:51 +0000

Associated up cycled news.

Perhaps there’s something to be said for not trying too hard. Sometimes it’s okay to allow a up-cycled men’s dress shirt, which has a distressed neckline, a stain, and maybe a Ralph Lauren Logo going on somewhere in the chest zone to form the basis of an entire collection of shirt dresses, aprons and new hand dyed tees. At the center of Made in Haiti for fall— the t-shirts are repeated in many hand stenciled or dyed variations, it is completely in line with the spirit of the reduce and remake from previous collections. This is exactly the kind of thing Made in Haiti customer’s love, so why mess with success?

The collection concludes with the I Love Haiti T-shirts, develop for the tourist (not aid workers) that will some day return, this shirt is 100 % made in Haiti, and it’s not the cheep Chinese version you can find on line.

MIH unveils new hang tags

fraufiber — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:03:48 +0000

Ethical entrepeneur CF Bazile, has headed up a new hang tag campagne, revealing the people behind the products. Garments will now display full color hang tags with a photograph and short bio of each person who participated in the Made in Haiti production line. This concept following the Labor Behind the Label philosophy, an important aspect of the work of Frau Fiber the founder of Made in Haiti.

Here is what you can expect to see, on the garments YOU purchase at the upcoming POP UP SHOPS or on the ETSY site.

Made in Haiti Celebrates 2 Years

fraufiber — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:45:29 +0000

of “good for garment workers production”

National Repurposed Apparel News

Celebrating two years of Haitian production and US sales, Made in Haiti hosts a series of POP UP SHOPS. Make your guilt free purchases of the latest trends in repurposed garments and accessories: messenger bags, lap top covers, coin purses, back bags, hand stenciled and dyed t-shirts, dresses, skirts and shirt. These one-time shops will be in the following locations:

Hands on 3^rdSaturday Nov 19 and Sunday Nov 20
11 am – 6 pm
8377 West 3rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90048-4312
323-655-0515

Hand made holiday market at Telharmonia (a downtown studio in the flower district)
734 San Julian St, Los Angeles, CA 90014.
Sunday Dec 4, 1- 8 pm
714.615.7706

Ghetto Biennale
Port Au Prince, Grand Rue,
December 11-17, ask at the Hotel Oloffson for Directions
9 am – 5 pm

After the phenomenal opening of its flagship factory and store at the Ghetto Biennale in the Grand Rue, of Port Au Prince in December of 2009 MADE IN HAITI (MIH) has become a style destination in the repurposed garment market, POP UP SHOPS have appeared in West Hollywood, California, Madison Wisconsin, and Portland, Oregon. MIH is a grass roots garment and accessories production company, based in Grand Rue of Port Au Prince Haiti. Founded in December of 2009, by Frau Fiber textile worker and activist and currently operated by CF Bazile. MIH addresses the global rag trade by repurposing Pepe (second hand garments) into dresses, t-shirts, aprons, lap top covers, messenger bags, back packs, employing honorably paid labor of Haitian tailors and artisans. The recent opening of the Etsy store in has established it as one of the most successful repurposed apparel lines, employing two tailors, translator / manager and 5 t-shirt artists.

http://madeinhaiti09.wordpress.com

Made in Haiti Opens Joshua Tree Pop-Up Shop

fraufiber — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:36:56 +0000

Made in Haiti; CF Bazile, Chief Finical Officer

LONG BEACH, May 16, 2011 — /clothingnewswire/ — Last weekend, May 13 Frau Fiber, launched 48 hour destination boutique in Joshua Tree Camp ground.

Located 2 hours east of the downtown Los Angeles Garment district, the 64 square foot store showcase primarily Made in Haiti 2009, 2010 and 2011 collections.

The store’s design, conceived by CB Bazile, was inspired by the Pepe vendors in Port Au Prince, making due with an existing frame, cotton rope was strung and cloths pins were used to highlight a spectacular display of larger than life stenciled t-shirts, by Londel, Claudel and Junior.

“Joshua Tree Music Festival goers loved our brand and what we do. Joshua Tree is one of the hottest spots for summer shopping, featuring some of the world’s most celebrated antiques and nick knacks. Widely known for being a trendsetter, Frau Fiber’s name is synonymous with creating some of the most iconic remade trends in the world.

CF Bazile attended conference in Madison WI

fraufiber — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:54:24 +0000

From apparel news sources

Wednesday April 12, 2011

MADISON – Social Entrepreneur and partner of Made in Haiti with Frau Fiber attended The Mid America American Studies Conference at the University Wisconsin Madison.

CF Bazile was seen throughout the day, conversing with Dr. Hanna Rose Shell, filmmaker and historian and the co-produce for the film, Second Hand Pepe. CF Bazile attuned two panels, Assemblage, and the Legacy of Work: Technology, Craft and DIY, featuring speakers from around the United States.

CF Bazile’s visit concluded with attending an exhibition where MADE IN HAITI, was premièred to the Madison, WI community. MADE IN HAITI was well received, and several pieces were sold. She’s quoted as saying “I’m glad there’s such enthusiasm,” and, with a project like MADE IN HAITI, “Each of Us Can Change the World.”

Dr. Hannah Rose Shell wearing her MIH apron.

CF Bazile, speaking with local press

MIH at the Joshua Tree Music Festival

fraufiber — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:41:22 +0000

Sample Sale of new Made in Haiti, garments and accessories at the Joshua Tree Music Festival. There is a limited stock, and this is the only sale on the West coast this spring. To attend the Festival at a discounted rate, purchase tickets which support the art. Cut and paste this link – or click on the link in the blog roll. http://www.romancart.com/cart.asp?storeid=24245&itemcode=product62

New CEO announced

fraufiber — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:39:18 +0000

Frau Fiber CEO and president of Made in Haiti, is stepping down from the business operations of the company on February 1, 2011. It’s been an adventurous year, but it’s time for a stronger businessperson to take the lead.

Frau Fiber’s is appointing a Chief Financial Officer is C. F. Bazile, a social business entrepreneur who is dedicated to economic development in Haiti, who respects the workers, and will be an advocate for honorable wages. Frau Fiber has indicated his willingness to consult when needed.

Frau Fiber led Made in Haiti during its founding, and early stages of its economic development. She leaves the fiscal roll of Made in Haiti with a strong foundation and exceptional balance sheet. Frau Fiber felt it was time for her to step down, and pass the torch to someone who is better-equipped business person and marketer; after all I’m just a textile worker and activist, not an entrepreneur.

New Collection – Stenciled T-shirts

fraufiber — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:48:30 +0000

Frau Fiber worked with four neighborhood artist to create these fantastic T-Shirts! This was the first time stenciling T-shirts, there are flaws and imperfections, which add to the hand made quality of the garments. These shirts have traveled from places of manufacturing like Guatemala, India, China to first use in USA, then to Haiti where they become Pepe and now back to the USA, where they are being resold, to support these artist who aspire to go to school for Engineering, English, and Political Science.

T-shirts are $20

Collection / Art by Claudel Casseus

Repurposed Just My Size, 18/20 W in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

Repurposed JerZees WXL in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

Repurposed JerZees Size L in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

SOLD

Repurposed Briazzi Size XL

Repurposed Chico’s Design Size 2

Repurposed croft & barrow size XL

Front

SOLD

Collection / Art by Kele Casseus Jr.

SOLD

Repurposed Fruit of the Loom Size L in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

Repurposed GAP size LW in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

Repurposed Hanes Size L in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

Inks faded on this shirt the image is now white with hints of pink

Repurposed Hautes Size 2XL

Collection / Art by Evel

SOLD

Repurposed Fruit of the Loom Size XL

Collection / Art by Londel Ynnocent

SOLD

Small in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

repurposed Cherokee Womans L in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

repurposed Jerzees size L in 3D @ My Aunt Debbie

SOLD

Repurposed St. Johns Bay Size XL

repurposed Jockey Size XL

SOLD