Fashion Haitian American

Haitians Did it First: A Walk Through History in Fashion

Hip Hop Group Migos

Written by Blogger Felicia Bridgewater  

Like many style bloggers, I have been shopping and gearing up for summer and fall seasons. While browsing some of my favorite sites and stores, I could not help but notice a trend that I am sure you fashionistas have noticed as well.

Style choices that originated in the Caribbean have made their way to the forefront of the fashion industry. Hip-Hop group Migos are considered very influential when it comes to style but there’s an ongoing social media joke that the group just dress like Haitian men.

These days, I cannot scroll through Instagram or Pinterest without seeing a straw bag. You know the ones? The caramel colored carryalls that resemble baskets more than they resemble purses?

As soon as I saw these bags popping up on runways and feeds, I thought of the Haitian outdoor markets that have been decked in handwoven straw bags, baskets, and hats for decades. Recalling the ornate straw bags I carried as a child, I dare say: Haitians did it first! Carrying our fruits, veggies, and other market goods to and from, baskets became necessary accessories for Haitian women decades ago.

Artisan Market Haiti by Franco Caruzzo

Miu Miu Kate Spade Spring 2018 Runway Raffia Straw-Basket Bag

While straw bags have been one of the most popular fashion trends to come out of 2018, I have noticed another trend that has grown in popularity for at least the past six seasons: chambray. Most recently, chambray dresses featuring ruffled sleeves, detailed embroidery, and bardot style shoulder-baring tops have been extremely popular.

These styles closely resemble the Haitian Quadrille or Karabela (Carabella) dresses that we have come to know and love.  Karabela dress is almost always made of an off-the-shoulder top or bodice with a full, matching skirt.  Through traditional carnivals and dance routines, these gorgeous dresses have been passed on from generation to generation.


Let’s not forget how fashion history and tradition are deeply intertwined in Haiti. Headwraps – protective hair accessories growing quickly in popularity – are not foreign to Haitians. Carrying on from the African influence on our culture, headwraps were worn as a celebration of culture through the use of unique designs, fabrics, and colors. In slavery, women (especially mammy’s) were forced to wear headwraps so as not to tempt their slave masters with their “exotic hair”. In modern-day fashion, instead of being worn as a sign of oppression, headwraps have returned to their intended form as a badge of honor, a style statement, and an indication of cultural origin.


Mandatory Credit: Photo by WWD/Shutterstock (9052045i)
Kaia Gerber on the catwalk
Marc Jacobs show, Runway, Spring Summer 2018, New York Fashion Week, USA – 13 Sep 2017
Mandatory Credit: Photo by WWD/Shutterstock (9052045b)
Kendall Jenner on the catwalk
Marc Jacobs show, Runway, Spring Summer 2018, New York Fashion Week, USA – 13 Sep 2017
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 13: Gigi Hadid walks the runway for Marc Jacobs SS18 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Park Avenue Armory on September 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)

What are some other fashion trends you think are inspired by Haitian

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Ray Banlye Broward (BCR) Disid Evalyasyon Anviwònman an Nimewo ID Pwojè Finansye Konte Broward ak Konte Miami-Dade, Florid: 452240-1

Ray Banlye Broward (BCR) Disid
Evalyasyon Anviwònman an Nimewo ID Pwojè Finansye Konte Broward ak Konte Miami-Dade, FLORID: 452240-1

Evalyasyon Anviwònman Revizyon

Konte Broward ak Depatman Transpò Laflorid (FDOT) te devlope yon Evalyasyon Anviwònman (EA) jan Administrasyon Federal Transpò (FTA) mande pou sèvis tren banlye nan Konte Broward pou asire konfòmite ak Lwa sou Règleman
Nasyonal pou Anviwònman (NEPA). Evalyasyon Anviwonman pote sou miz an plas sèvis tren banlye sou koridò ferovyè (Kot Lès Florid) depi nan estasyon pasaje yo nan vil Aventura ale nan direksyon nò rive nan jiska vil Fort Lauderdale, yon distans 18.5 kilomèt. Nouvo estasyon pasaje yo pwopoze nan Vil Hollywood, nan Ayewopò Entènasyonal Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood, ak nan Sid Fort Lauderdale.

Objektif Evalyasyon Anviwonman a se analize efè aplikasyon pwojè a sou anviwònman fizik, imen ak natirèl. Sa a se yon avi ki anonse ke yon peryòd konsiltasyon piblik 30 jou ap kòmanse 19 jiyè 2024 epi fini 18 out 2024 pou yo ka rekiyi kòmantè sou Evalyasyon Anviwonman an. Tout kòmantè ou resevwa pandan peryòd kòmantè sa a, ak repons a kòmantè sa yo, pral enkòpore nan dokiman final desizyon NEPA a. Kòmantè yo ka soumèt nenpòt lè pandan peryòd kòmantè a nan youn nan
de fason:

 Pa imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org
 Pa lapòs US: Broward County Transit, Capital Planning and Project Development Attn: Broward Commuter Rail South, 1 North University Drive, Suite 3100A, Plantation, Florida 33324

Tout kòmantè ekri yo dwe resevwa anvan 4:30 P.M. dimanch 18 out 2024. Tout moun ki enterese envite pou fè kòmantè yo.

Tanpri note ke enfòmasyon pèsonèl moun ki soumèt kòmantè yo, si yo bay yo, yo ka pibliye nan dokiman anviwònman yo ki sikile piblikman. Yon manm piblik la ka chwazi eskli enfòmasyon pèsonèl yo nan kòmantè yo.

Yon kopi elektwonik Evalyasyon Anviwonman a disponib jiska 18 out 2024 sou sit entènèt pwojè a
(www.browardcommuterrailstudy.com) an tèks klè ak fòma pdf, ak nan fòma papye nan Syèj Sosyal Broward County Transit (1 North University Drive, Suite 3100A, Plantation, Florida 33324) pandan lè travay nòmal yo. Kopi papye yo disponib tou nan biwo FTA Rejyon 4 ki nan 230 Peachtree Street, NW. Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.

Kopi enprime Pwojè Evalyasyon Anviwonman a ap disponib tou pou revize pandan lè ouvrab regilye yo nan lokal bibliyotèk piblik Konte Broward sa yo:

-100 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
-1 Park Avenue East, Dania Beach, FL 33004
-2600 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33020
-300 S Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Enfòmasyon pou Kontakte:
Phil Schwab, P.E., FDOT Responsab
Pwojè Depatman Transpò Florid
3400 West Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Telefòn: (954) 777-4524
Nimewo gratis nan (866) 336-8435, ekst. 4524 Imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org
Depatman Transpò Florid
3400 West Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Telefòn: (954) 777-4524
Nimewo gratis nan (866) 336-8435, ekst. 4524 Imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org

Jie Bian, BCT Responsab Pwojè
Broward County Transit
1 North University Drive
Suite 3100A Plantation, Florida 33324
Telefòn: (954) 357-8532
Imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org

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