FI DI CULCHA

FI DI CULCHA
handmade jewellery by
chrissy’s coils
and more..
SPECIAL EDITION

FROM THE
EDITOR
I would like to extend a warm and huge
thank you to every single individual who
helped to make this project a success.
To all the models who gave their time
and energy and patience to this project,
I greatly appreciate it.
To all my friends who gave their support when
planning did not go my way and also
extended their wisdom, I give a big bear hug.
Lastly, another very big thank you to my family and lecturers
who gave their design expertise, support and time
from their busy schedules.
Fi Di Culcha’s purpose is to explore three aspects of black
culture ,those being hair, clothing and jewellery, often
appropriated and exploited by other cultures. I do this by
featuring individuals whose craft is centered around those
aspects and highlight how they used their craft to reclaim a
part of their culture.
In an environment where globalisation has caused human
beings to constantly be stripped of their beliefs and cultural
background I belive it is pertinent to stay true to oneself,
hence the decision to create Fi Di Culcha.
To all the stylists and designers who gave
their time as well as their products another
big thank you.
BLESSINGS AND LIGHT

@momopenellidesigns

03
07
quick chat with quaint
The creator of Quaint by GSC tells us all about
the afro brand
a crown for a queen
Chrystal sits down with Fi Di Culcha and
dishes out all the deets
09
all the styling help
naturalistas need
Hair care tips & tricks for all the natural girls
out there
11
the new africa
Must have Afro prints and accessories in
your closet
NTS

13
dipped in gold
Christen Romans tells Fi Di Culcha about
her handmade jewellery line “Chrissy’s
Coils” and much more
17 style it! love it!
Three super cute styles for natural hair
19 keep your coppers
poppin'
Four ways to keep your copper jewellery
longer
21 shop chrissy's coils
Chrissy’s handmade jewellery for sale
CONT-

ulture
in
Couture
If Jamaican Afro- wear had a name, it
would be ‘unusually interesting’,
which is the meaning of the intriguing
Afro brand ‘Quaint by GSC’. Gabrielle
S. Clarke, the 22-year old founder and
creator of the brand, describes it as
one that strives to keep Afrocentric
culture alive through fashion.
The young entrepreneur describes
Quaint as her calling. Starting at the
early age of 6 years old, fashion has
always appealed to her sense of
creativity. From creating clothing for
her dolls and teddies to owning a
one-of-a-kind Jamaican brand,
Gabrielle is on her way to being a
force to be reckoned with in the
fashion industry.
However, in a ‘world’ where scales are
not always tipped in a black girl’s
favour and history has ushered the
discourse of self-hate into the minds
of black people, Gabrielle describes
her brand as one that strives to make
people proud of their roots and to
embrace them.
The young creative attributes her
inspiration for the brand to her
blackness. She states: “I am black. My
brand should always represent me
and African prints were the only thing
that spoke to me when I had to
Fi Di Culcha 03
decide what line of fabrics I would use for
my products.”
The Afro- entrepreneur states that black
culture needs to be represented, as
Jamaicans are mostly exposed to American
and European fashion and culture.
She states African culture has been psychologically
and physically beaten out of
black people and it is important to return
to our roots. Her brand is a representation
of black culture and she deems it important
to put her good talents and skills to
say black culture is worthy.

Q
U
A
I
N
T
B
Y
G
S
C
“I AM BLACK.
MY BRAND SHOULD REPRESENT ME.”
From fashion shows at Elsa-Leo Rhynie
Towers Hall at the UWI Mona campus,
to pop up shops at Bae Vibes, Gabby
describes Quaint by GSC growth as
phenomenal, especially with the use of
new age marketing via her social
media platforms. Quaint bag packs are
generally made within 4 hours after
ordering, with material all locally
sourced from establishments such as
Pings, Pablo’s and Marc’s Upholstery.
The Afro brand is definitely on that
allows individuals to once again get
#AQUAINTED with black culture
through fashion.

Style it!
Love it!
Taking care of natural hair can be super difficult, but not
with these three super cute and easy protective styles!
THE BRAIDED CROWN & LOW BUN
1
2
Start by sectioning off the front of your hair into two.
Then, braid both sections all the way to the back of your
head.
Next, slick back the remaining hair along with the two
braided pieces and use a scrunchie to hold together.
Fluff bun to desired volume.
FAUX LOCS
1
Start by plaiting natural hai
additional hair to length of
2 around
Take kanekalon or marley h
the braids previous
3
Burn
ends to avoid hair unr
accessories of choice.
Fi Di Culcha 17

1
TWISTED BUNS
Moisturise hair with product before sectioning hair into
four parts. Grasp two twists and seal with an elastic band,
now creating two twist instead of four.
2
Twist ends of hair of both twists into four smaller twists
and wrap into a bun, using hair pins to hold together.
You may add additional hair to your own for extra
volume.
r to its full length, adding
choice.
air and wrap tightly
ly made.
avelling . Add any
Fi Di Culcha 18

THE MANE
ATTRACTION with
CHRYSTAL
GRAHAM

A crown
A Queen
FOR A
Like bees are to honey, a black woman’s
hair is her crown, and for one reason and
one reason only; because she is a queen.
Chrystal Graham is the 22-year old Scotia
banker by day and a hair wizard after 5
p.m. Her hair brand which she proudly
calls, ‘Ubber Hairdresser’ is the innovative
hair salon that comes to you. The young
stylist says what makes Ubber Hairdresser
stand out, is that she goes the extra mile
to please her clients, by finding their perfect
style, as well as taking them on an
educational hair journey by giving them
hair care tips and tricks. The creative was
inspired to dedicate her hair talents to a
black audience because of her excitement
for black culture. She describes it as fascinating
to re-create and modify styles from
the past and highlights that many styles
she has attempted are inspired by the
Fulani tribe among others in Africa.
When Chrystal isn’t scouring YouTube
looking for tips on perfecting her craft, she
is definitely putting in the work to get her
name and her business, into the ears and
unto the lips of everyone she can, through
the use of social media platforms such as
Instagram.
Fi Di Culcha 07

As many aspects of black culture are often
appropriated and exploited with high fashion
runways calling bantu knots mini buns
and cornrows boxer braids, the young hair
guru believes it is disrespectful and quite
tactless for elements of a culture to simply
be claimed by another. Chrystal states,
“While I’m not perturbed by people from
different cultures wearing hairstyles affiliated
with black culture, what I don’t appreciate
is when the foundation of black culture;
especially in the case of hair, is taken and
other cultures affix their names to it without
giving much or any credit to the black community
as the original source.”
“Bad days happen to everyone,
but don’t let it be even worse with a
bad hairstyle”
Despite hair styling to be strenuous, with styles
taking up to 10 hours to complete, and the challenge
of not owning a vehicle restricting the
young hairstylist from quickly getting around to
conduct business; this style savvy queen hopes to
spread her wings and one day expand her business,
master her craft and be on her way to
becoming a mane attraction.
Ubber Hairdresser can be found
@ubber_hairdresser on Instagram.
Fi Di Culcha 08

All the styling help
naturalistas need
LAY ME !
Lay those edges mamacita ! Eco styler gel is
a girl’s baby hair’s best friend !
Eco styler gel comes in many variations;
flaxseed,argon oil and even coconut oil. Eco
styler gel is perfect for
neatening hair and
slicking back cute buns.
It works great on
defining curls on damp
hair. Raking baby hair
back with a tail comb or toothbrush defines
them perfectly.
CURL ME !
Shea Moisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Combo is
perfect for those curls!
L The curl enancing
smoothie is enriched
with natural elements
that give gloriously
shiny and bouncy
curls!
Section damp or dry
hair and apply product
sparingly and style hair
as desired. As every product is different for
every naturalista, this product is good to have
as a go to. Its mouisturising and hydrating
formula tames flyaway hairs and is great for
transitioners with damaged or over processed hair.
Fi Di Culcha 09

GROW ME !
VOLUME VOLUME AND MORE VOLUME !!
Black castor oil is the holy grail when it
comes to growing and thickening hair.
Massaging a little castor oil into one’s
hair helps to stimulate hair growth.
Also sealing hair ends with castor oil
before washing will help stimulate
hair growth over time.
SHINE ME !
Argon Oil is one of the best oils when it comes
to achieving that super shiny hair we all dream of !
A little goes a long way with
this product. Argon oil is great
for taming frizz and promoting
shine and gloss in every queen’s
crown.
It can even help fight dandruff
and dry scalp. Its Vitamin E
encourages healthy hair growth
with its chockful of antioxidants.
STRENGTHEN ME !
Coconut oil and Olive oil are great apart
but even greater together!
A hot oil treatment with a mixture of
coconut oil and oilive oil is perfect
for preventing hair breakage
and alaso treating dry and
brittle hair. It can be used as
an overnight leave-in
conditioner and after washing
hair will be smoother and
stronger.

the
new Africa
Update your wardrobe with
these cute Afrocentric essentials
Designer Momopenelli shows us
all her earrings, necklaces and
shirts for all the kings and queens
out there.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS
LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS
Fi Di Culcha 11

CHRISSY’S
COILS

DIPPED IN
GOLD
Dipped in gold and bronzed in elegance is the pure definition of
Chrissy’s Coils. The handmade coiled copper jewellery line was
introduced to Jamaica by 23 year old UWI law student,Christen
Romans.
The young wire bender took the initiative to become more serious with
her craft during a period of financial difficulties at university and
describes the creative direction of Chrissy’s Coils as a reflection of her
personal style and what she finds visually stimulating. Christen uses
gold-plated copper and anodised aluminum; which is a coat of a metal,
especially aluminum with a protective oxide layer, to create her
jewellery. She believes that her brand stands above the rest because
there’s something for every type of female and even male, such as her
arrowhead rings and half bloom earrings which are a big hit among the
females. Chrissy’s Coils is the brand that gives individuals the platform
to boldly or subtly express their pride and alliance with Afrocentrism
and Africa on a whole, in such a racially divided society.
Fi Di Culcha 13
“As a black wo
blackness, I wa
and in creating
my target audie
copper connois
inspiration from
marginalisation
cultures benefi
problem of cult
things that wou
unappealing an
into hip, trendy
source needs to
worldwide deb
items such as b
believes repres
extremely impo
so heavily infiltr
representation

man taught to embrace her
s initially creating pieces for myself
for myself, I indirectly carved out
nce“,the creative said. The
seur believes that everyone draws
somewhere; however, the
of black culture in which other
t without giving credit, is where the
ural appropriation lies. “Taking
ld be considered ghetto,
d inappropriate and turning them
and urban, without citing the
stop,” says Christen. There is the
ate as to why it is so difficult to find
lack dolls, and as such, Christen
entation of black culture is
rtant. She states that in a country
ated by U.S media, black
ensures that we as black people
“I see myself as a girl who was
blessed to have been born black”
remember who we are and not have our black
culture dictated to us by those who would seek to
further marginalise, manipulate and exploit us.
The coiling creative, voices that being a one woman
show is the hardest thing about running a business,
but appreciates small pleasures, like vending at
events such as the last Bob Marley birthday
celebration at the Bob Marley Museum. She says it
is a good forum for her to interact with her
customers. Christen’s goal is to be recognised both
locally and internationally; to become a company
synonymous with quality and uniqueness and
dipping the world’s black kings and queens in the
gold that is Chrissy’s Coils.

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BAKING SODA
01
INDREDIENTS:
Baking soda, lemon/lime and salt
Mix equal parts of baking soda, lemon or lime and salt to
create a paste. Apply to copper jewellery with a toothbrush
and set for at least 5 - 10 minutes, then rinse with water.
KEEP YOUR COPPERS
POPPINʼ
02 KETCHUP
Ketchup is a great option for vintage copper jewellery with a lot
of detailing. The household find contains vinegar, which is great
for cleaning copper.
Rub the ketchup on the jewellery with fingers then use a damp
cloth or a toothbrush to buff out the ketchup. Rinse the jewellery
then let it dry and shine it with a polishing cloth.
Fi Di Culcha 19

Jewellery
Care
03
VINEGAR BOIL
Bring a pot of water and vinegar solution to a boil and immerse
your copper jewellery in it for a deep clean. Leave jewellery for
at least 10-15 mins.
Remove jewellery with tongs and let cool before touching and
rinsing. After jewellery has cooled, rinse the copper with cool water.
04 WORCESTERSHIRE
SAUCE
The acidic nature of this sauce has the ability to clean copper
jewellery. This is however not recommended for pieces that contain
details such as pearls.
Coat the item in sauce and leave for about 10 minutes then rinse
with lukewarm water and dry with a clean cloth.
Fi Di Culcha 20

Shop Chrissy’s Coils
JMD:$2000.00
JMD:$1200.00
JMD:$1500.00
Fi Di Culcha 21
JMD:$2500.00

CONTRIB
Monique jones
DESIGNER AND OWNER OF
MOMOPENELLI DESIGNS
UTORS
All my firends and family
AND EVERYONE I CANNOT LIST
MOTIVATORS, AND GIVERS OF MORAL SUPPORT AND
GOOD OPINIONS
CHRYSTAL GRAHAM
HAIR STYLIST
IMAGE
CHRISTEN ROMANS
CREATOR OF CHRISSY’S COILS
gabrielle clarke
DESIGNER AND OWNER OF
QUAINT BY GSC
IMAGE
marissa rowe
MAKE UP ARTIST

MY CULCHA.
YOUR CULCHA.
FI WI CULCHA.
FI DI CULCHA.