Fait La Force: Housewares Made in Haiti - Remodelista
Emma Allen named her new housewares line Fait La Force after the motto on the Haitian flag: “L’Union fait la force” (“Strength through unity”). In Port-au-Prince she met Chandler Hamilton, an American with a merchandising background, who runs a small but growing Haitian production facility. Serant Banana + Palm Leaf Baskets are handwoven by Fait La Force partner Serant Valmont; $98 for the medium size (R) and $148 for “great big” (L). To get quilt production going, Allen sourced canvas, cotton, and denim from the Dominican Republic. The Cassan Indigo Quilt is made of denim and indigo-dyed linen; $245. A look at the colors, patterns, and detail work of the Cassan Linen Quilt. Wally the Whale is another collaboration with A Well-Traveled Brand; $25. A quilted Indigo Checkers Board with horn and bone pieces and its own travel pouch; $98. Third-generation weaver Oblin Etienne hand-looms the cotton Oblin Mat; $58 each. The Oblin Mat is 21 by 36 inches. Fait La Force’s leather goods were the trickiest to produce. The denim and leather Dopp Kit is $42. Above L: The multi-pocketed Everyday Tote, $98, is made of canvas with red stitching and leather handles. R: A denim and leather version of the Everyday Tote; inquire about price. The hand-carved Republic Wood Rosary is sized to hang on a wall; $72 for large (shown) and $85 for extra large.