Earlier this month, I was honored to be inducted onto the Haitian Roundtable’s 1804 list of Haitian-American Changemakers and Ones To Watch!
Yes! I am proudly Haitian. My father was born in Port-Au-Prince, and my great great great (great?) grandfather Andre Rigaud was a general in a Haitian Revolution. I don’t see it as a coincidence or take it for granted that I’m a descendent of a revolutionary ancestor, and that I have dedicated my life to revolutionizing the fashion industry. As is the Haitian’s Roundtable’s mission, “We are the Keepers of Our Legacy.”
It was an incredible honor to be recognized for my work in the fashion industry alongside other Haitians of note, including Danielle Cadet of Essence Magazine, Rajni Jacques of Snapchat, Ouigi Theodore of the Brooklyn Circus, Alice Vilma of Morgan Stanley, and so many more!
For the occasion, I wore one of my favorite brands: Hanifa!
Can you believe my friends were hating on this dress? They called it a ‘mop’ dress, but I loved the color and thought it captured my Caribbean flair very well.
What say you?
Love & Light,
*So my Dad never taught me Creole:/ And while I speak French, I definitely feel like a faking Haitian at events like this because I can’t speak Haitian Creole. Of course my schoolteacher mother has suggested I learn it on DuoLingo, which just might be my next challenge. Stay tuned!
Images: Salvatore DeMaio
