Shopping in the
BVI
by outward appearances as great finds are made inside some shops with less than the polished exteriors of tourist shops elsewhere. The CocoLocos boutique on Jost Van Dyke (pictured here as a bit of history from 1998) is owned by Lorrin Callwood, a gifted craftsperson. Distinctive Shops. Quality Merchandise. Art and Handicrafts. Island motifs, palettes, and iconographic influences from the myriad of cultures that the Caribbean, in its rich history as an international crossroads, beget themselves and intertwine in contemporary personalities, enriched by travel and interaction, before finally being realized in these products (or their selection), whether recipes, watercolors, or handcrafted jewelry. Collections like Freddie's at Josiah's Bay Plantation Art Gallery reflect this abundance of source material, the setting itself in sugar mill ruins attests to the arrival of that magic hand, a state of grace sought in the art as an end in itself. Clothing & Fabric. Yet the proprietor Vivian Jenik Helm of Zenaida's at Soper's Hole searches Africa, South America and India for textile motifs for batiks, weaves, handpainted fabrics, and other distinctive goods such as scarves, sarongs and ethnic jewelry. When Anesta Frett travels to her native Trinidad looking especially for her favorite handpainted items, it is her fashion sense, especially in exquisite women's apparel, the blending of island romance with good taste that attracts the eye. See Anesta here in a fashion show at Foxy's. It is these personalities, their endeavors, and the resulting hidden treasures, like the islands themselves, that make browsing BVI shops such an adventure. |