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FI DI CULCHA<br />
handmade jewellery by<br />
chrissy’s coils<br />
and more..<br />
SPECIAL EDITION
FROM THE<br />
EDITOR<br />
I would like to extend a warm and huge<br />
thank you to every single individual who<br />
helped to make this project a success.<br />
To all the models who gave their time<br />
and energy and patience to this project,<br />
I greatly appreciate it.<br />
To all my friends who gave their support when<br />
planning did not go my way and also<br />
extended their wisdom, I give a big bear hug.<br />
Lastly, another very big thank you to my family and lecturers<br />
who gave their design expertise, support and time<br />
from their busy schedules.<br />
Fi Di Culcha’s purpose is to explore three aspects of black<br />
culture ,those being hair, clothing and jewellery, often<br />
appropriated and exploited by other cultures. I do this by<br />
featuring individuals whose craft is centered around those<br />
aspects and highlight how they used their craft to reclaim a<br />
part of their culture.<br />
In an environment where globalisation has caused human<br />
beings to constantly be stripped of their beliefs and cultural<br />
background I belive it is pertinent to stay true to oneself,<br />
hence the decision to create Fi Di Culcha.<br />
To all the stylists and designers who gave<br />
their time as well as their products another<br />
big thank you.<br />
BLESSINGS AND LIGHT
@momopenellidesigns
03<br />
07<br />
quick chat with quaint<br />
The creator of Quaint by GSC tells us all about<br />
the afro brand<br />
a crown for a queen<br />
Chrystal sits down with Fi Di Culcha and<br />
dishes out all the deets<br />
09<br />
all the styling help<br />
naturalistas need<br />
Hair care tips & tricks for all the natural girls<br />
out there<br />
11<br />
the new africa<br />
Must have Afro prints and accessories in<br />
your closet<br />
NTS
13<br />
dipped in gold<br />
Christen Romans tells Fi Di Culcha about<br />
her handmade jewellery line “Chrissy’s<br />
Coils” and much more<br />
17 style it! love it!<br />
Three super cute styles for natural hair<br />
19 keep your coppers<br />
poppin'<br />
Four ways to keep your copper jewellery<br />
longer<br />
21 shop chrissy's coils<br />
Chrissy’s handmade jewellery for sale<br />
CONT-
ulture<br />
in<br />
Couture<br />
If Jamaican Afro- wear had a name, it<br />
would be ‘unusually interesting’,<br />
which is the meaning of the intriguing<br />
Afro brand ‘Quaint by GSC’. Gabrielle<br />
S. Clarke, the 22-year old founder and<br />
creator of the brand, describes it as<br />
one that strives to keep Afrocentric<br />
culture alive through fashion.<br />
The young entrepreneur describes<br />
Quaint as her calling. Starting at the<br />
early age of 6 years old, fashion has<br />
always appealed to her sense of<br />
creativity. From creating clothing for<br />
her dolls and teddies to owning a<br />
one-of-a-kind Jamaican brand,<br />
Gabrielle is on her way to being a<br />
force to be reckoned with in the<br />
fashion industry.<br />
However, in a ‘world’ where scales are<br />
not always tipped in a black girl’s<br />
favour and history has ushered the<br />
discourse of self-hate into the minds<br />
of black people, Gabrielle describes<br />
her brand as one that strives to make<br />
people proud of their roots and to<br />
embrace them.<br />
The young creative attributes her<br />
inspiration for the brand to her<br />
blackness. She states: “I am black. My<br />
brand should always represent me<br />
and African prints were the only thing<br />
that spoke to me when I had to<br />
Fi Di Culcha 03<br />
decide what line of fabrics I would use for<br />
my products.”<br />
The Afro- entrepreneur states that black<br />
culture needs to be represented, as<br />
Jamaicans are mostly exposed to American<br />
and European fashion and culture.<br />
She states African culture has been psychologically<br />
and physically beaten out of<br />
black people and it is important to return<br />
to our roots. Her brand is a representation<br />
of black culture and she deems it important<br />
to put her good talents and skills to<br />
say black culture is worthy.
Q<br />
U<br />
A<br />
I<br />
N<br />
T<br />
B<br />
Y<br />
G<br />
S<br />
C<br />
“I AM BLACK.<br />
MY BRAND SHOULD REPRESENT ME.”<br />
From fashion shows at Elsa-Leo Rhynie<br />
Towers Hall at the UWI Mona campus,<br />
to pop up shops at Bae Vibes, Gabby<br />
describes Quaint by GSC growth as<br />
phenomenal, especially with the use of<br />
new age marketing via her social<br />
<strong>media</strong> platforms. Quaint bag packs are<br />
generally made within 4 hours after<br />
ordering, with material all locally<br />
sourced from establishments such as<br />
Pings, Pablo’s and Marc’s Upholstery.<br />
The Afro brand is definitely on that<br />
allows individuals to once again get<br />
#AQUAINTED with black culture<br />
through fashion.
Style it!<br />
Love it!<br />
Taking care of natural hair can be super difficult, but not<br />
with these three super cute and easy protective styles!<br />
THE BRAIDED CROWN & LOW BUN<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Start by sectioning off the front of your hair into two.<br />
Then, braid both sections all the way to the back of your<br />
head.<br />
Next, slick back the remaining hair along with the two<br />
braided pieces and use a scrunchie to hold together.<br />
Fluff bun to desired volume.<br />
FAUX LOCS<br />
1<br />
Start by plaiting natural hai<br />
additional hair to length of<br />
2 around<br />
Take kanekalon or marley h<br />
the braids previous<br />
3<br />
Burn<br />
ends to avoid hair unr<br />
accessories of choice.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 17
1<br />
TWISTED BUNS<br />
Moisturise hair with product before sectioning hair into<br />
four parts. Grasp two twists and seal with an elastic band,<br />
now creating two twist instead of four.<br />
2<br />
Twist ends of hair of both twists into four smaller twists<br />
and wrap into a bun, using hair pins to hold together.<br />
You may add additional hair to your own for extra<br />
volume.<br />
r to its full length, adding<br />
choice.<br />
air and wrap tightly<br />
ly made.<br />
avelling . Add any<br />
Fi Di Culcha 18
THE MANE<br />
ATTRACTION with<br />
CHRYSTAL<br />
GRAHAM
A crown<br />
A Queen<br />
FOR A<br />
Like bees are to honey, a black woman’s<br />
hair is her crown, and for one reason and<br />
one reason only; because she is a queen.<br />
Chrystal Graham is the 22-year old Scotia<br />
banker by day and a hair wizard after 5<br />
p.m. Her hair brand which she proudly<br />
calls, ‘Ubber Hairdresser’ is the innovative<br />
hair salon that comes to you. The young<br />
stylist says what makes Ubber Hairdresser<br />
stand out, is that she goes the extra mile<br />
to please her clients, by finding their perfect<br />
style, as well as taking them on an<br />
educational hair journey by giving them<br />
hair care tips and tricks. The creative was<br />
inspired to dedicate her hair talents to a<br />
black audience because of her excitement<br />
for black culture. She describes it as fascinating<br />
to re-create and modify styles from<br />
the past and highlights that many styles<br />
she has attempted are inspired by the<br />
Fulani tribe among others in Africa.<br />
When Chrystal isn’t scouring YouTube<br />
looking for tips on perfecting her craft, she<br />
is definitely putting in the work to get her<br />
name and her business, into the ears and<br />
unto the lips of everyone she can, through<br />
the use of social <strong>media</strong> platforms such as<br />
Instagram.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 07
As many aspects of black culture are often<br />
appropriated and exploited with high fashion<br />
runways calling bantu knots mini buns<br />
and cornrows boxer braids, the young hair<br />
guru believes it is disrespectful and quite<br />
tactless for elements of a culture to simply<br />
be claimed by another. Chrystal states,<br />
“While I’m not perturbed by people from<br />
different cultures wearing hairstyles affiliated<br />
with black culture, what I don’t appreciate<br />
is when the foundation of black culture;<br />
especially in the case of hair, is taken and<br />
other cultures affix their names to it without<br />
giving much or any credit to the black community<br />
as the original source.”<br />
“Bad days happen to everyone,<br />
but don’t let it be even worse with a<br />
bad hairstyle”<br />
Despite hair styling to be strenuous, with styles<br />
taking up to 10 hours to complete, and the challenge<br />
of not owning a vehicle restricting the<br />
young hairstylist from quickly getting around to<br />
conduct business; this style savvy queen hopes to<br />
spread her wings and one day expand her business,<br />
master her craft and be on her way to<br />
becoming a mane attraction.<br />
Ubber Hairdresser can be found<br />
@ubber_hairdresser on Instagram.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 08
All the styling help<br />
naturalistas need<br />
LAY ME !<br />
Lay those edges mamacita ! Eco styler gel is<br />
a girl’s baby hair’s best friend !<br />
Eco styler gel comes in many variations;<br />
flaxseed,argon oil and even coconut oil. Eco<br />
styler gel is perfect for<br />
neatening hair and<br />
slicking back cute buns.<br />
It works great on<br />
defining curls on damp<br />
hair. Raking baby hair<br />
back with a tail comb or toothbrush defines<br />
them perfectly.<br />
CURL ME !<br />
Shea Moisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Combo is<br />
perfect for those curls!<br />
L The curl enancing<br />
smoothie is enriched<br />
with natural elements<br />
that give gloriously<br />
shiny and bouncy<br />
curls!<br />
Section damp or dry<br />
hair and apply product<br />
sparingly and style hair<br />
as desired. As every product is different for<br />
every naturalista, this product is good to have<br />
as a go to. Its mouisturising and hydrating<br />
formula tames flyaway hairs and is great for<br />
transitioners with damaged or over processed hair.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 09
GROW ME !<br />
VOLUME VOLUME AND MORE VOLUME !!<br />
Black castor oil is the holy grail when it<br />
comes to growing and thickening hair.<br />
Massaging a little castor oil into one’s<br />
hair helps to stimulate hair growth.<br />
Also sealing hair ends with castor oil<br />
before washing will help stimulate<br />
hair growth over time.<br />
SHINE ME !<br />
Argon Oil is one of the best oils when it comes<br />
to achieving that super shiny hair we all dream of !<br />
A little goes a long way with<br />
this product. Argon oil is great<br />
for taming frizz and promoting<br />
shine and gloss in every queen’s<br />
crown.<br />
It can even help fight dandruff<br />
and dry scalp. Its Vitamin E<br />
encourages healthy hair growth<br />
with its chockful of antioxidants.<br />
STRENGTHEN ME !<br />
Coconut oil and Olive oil are great apart<br />
but even greater together!<br />
A hot oil treatment with a mixture of<br />
coconut oil and oilive oil is perfect<br />
for preventing hair breakage<br />
and alaso treating dry and<br />
brittle hair. It can be used as<br />
an overnight leave-in<br />
conditioner and after washing<br />
hair will be smoother and<br />
stronger.
the<br />
new Africa<br />
Update your wardrobe with<br />
these cute Afrocentric essentials<br />
Designer Momopenelli shows us<br />
all her earrings, necklaces and<br />
shirts for all the kings and queens<br />
out there.<br />
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS<br />
LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT<br />
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS<br />
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS<br />
Fi Di Culcha 11
CHRISSY’S<br />
COILS
DIPPED IN<br />
GOLD<br />
Dipped in gold and bronzed in elegance is the pure definition of<br />
Chrissy’s Coils. The handmade coiled copper jewellery line was<br />
introduced to Jamaica by 23 year old UWI law student,Christen<br />
Romans.<br />
The young wire bender took the initiative to become more serious with<br />
her craft during a period of financial difficulties at university and<br />
describes the creative direction of Chrissy’s Coils as a reflection of her<br />
personal style and what she finds visually stimulating. Christen uses<br />
gold-plated copper and anodised aluminum; which is a coat of a metal,<br />
especially aluminum with a protective oxide layer, to create her<br />
jewellery. She believes that her brand stands above the rest because<br />
there’s something for every type of female and even male, such as her<br />
arrowhead rings and half bloom earrings which are a big hit among the<br />
females. Chrissy’s Coils is the brand that gives individuals the platform<br />
to boldly or subtly express their pride and alliance with Afrocentrism<br />
and Africa on a whole, in such a racially divided society.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 13<br />
“As a black wo<br />
blackness, I wa<br />
and in creating<br />
my target audie<br />
copper connois<br />
inspiration from<br />
marginalisation<br />
cultures benefi<br />
problem of cult<br />
things that wou<br />
unappealing an<br />
into hip, trendy<br />
source needs to<br />
worldwide deb<br />
items such as b<br />
believes repres<br />
extremely impo<br />
so heavily infiltr<br />
representation
man taught to embrace her<br />
s initially creating pieces for myself<br />
for myself, I indirectly carved out<br />
nce“,the creative said. The<br />
seur believes that everyone draws<br />
somewhere; however, the<br />
of black culture in which other<br />
t without giving credit, is where the<br />
ural appropriation lies. “Taking<br />
ld be considered ghetto,<br />
d inappropriate and turning them<br />
and urban, without citing the<br />
stop,” says Christen. There is the<br />
ate as to why it is so difficult to find<br />
lack dolls, and as such, Christen<br />
entation of black culture is<br />
rtant. She states that in a country<br />
ated by U.S <strong>media</strong>, black<br />
ensures that we as black people<br />
“I see myself as a girl who was<br />
blessed to have been born black”<br />
remember who we are and not have our black<br />
culture dictated to us by those who would seek to<br />
further marginalise, manipulate and exploit us.<br />
The coiling creative, voices that being a one woman<br />
show is the hardest thing about running a business,<br />
but appreciates small pleasures, like vending at<br />
events such as the last Bob Marley birthday<br />
celebration at the Bob Marley Museum. She says it<br />
is a good forum for her to interact with her<br />
customers. Christen’s goal is to be recognised both<br />
locally and internationally; to become a company<br />
synonymous with quality and uniqueness and<br />
dipping the world’s black kings and queens in the<br />
gold that is Chrissy’s Coils.
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BAKING SODA<br />
01<br />
INDREDIENTS:<br />
Baking soda, lemon/lime and salt<br />
Mix equal parts of baking soda, lemon or lime and salt to<br />
create a paste. Apply to copper jewellery with a toothbrush<br />
and set for at least 5 - 10 minutes, then rinse with water.<br />
KEEP YOUR COPPERS<br />
POPPINʼ<br />
02 KETCHUP<br />
Ketchup is a great option for vintage copper jewellery with a lot<br />
of detailing. The household find contains vinegar, which is great<br />
for cleaning copper.<br />
Rub the ketchup on the jewellery with fingers then use a damp<br />
cloth or a toothbrush to buff out the ketchup. Rinse the jewellery<br />
then let it dry and shine it with a polishing cloth.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 19
Jewellery<br />
Care<br />
03<br />
VINEGAR BOIL<br />
Bring a pot of water and vinegar solution to a boil and immerse<br />
your copper jewellery in it for a deep clean. Leave jewellery for<br />
at least 10-15 mins.<br />
Remove jewellery with tongs and let cool before touching and<br />
rinsing. After jewellery has cooled, rinse the copper with cool water.<br />
04 WORCESTERSHIRE<br />
SAUCE<br />
The acidic nature of this sauce has the ability to clean copper<br />
jewellery. This is however not recommended for pieces that contain<br />
details such as pearls.<br />
Coat the item in sauce and leave for about 10 minutes then rinse<br />
with lukewarm water and dry with a clean cloth.<br />
Fi Di Culcha 20
Shop Chrissy’s Coils<br />
JMD:$2000.00<br />
JMD:$1200.00<br />
JMD:$1500.00<br />
Fi Di Culcha 21<br />
JMD:$2500.00
CONTRIB<br />
Monique jones<br />
DESIGNER AND OWNER OF<br />
MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS<br />
UTORS<br />
All my firends and family<br />
AND EVERYONE I CANNOT LIST<br />
MOTIVATORS, AND GIVERS OF MORAL SUPPORT AND<br />
GOOD OPINIONS<br />
CHRYSTAL GRAHAM<br />
HAIR STYLIST<br />
IMAGE<br />
CHRISTEN ROMANS<br />
CREATOR OF CHRISSY’S COILS<br />
gabrielle clarke<br />
DESIGNER AND OWNER OF<br />
QUAINT BY GSC<br />
IMAGE<br />
marissa rowe<br />
MAKE UP ARTIST
MY CULCHA.<br />
YOUR CULCHA.<br />
FI WI CULCHA.<br />
FI DI CULCHA.