Keep an eye out for these fresh new Jamaican-made small businesses! Now more than ever, it's important to support local and build Jamaica.
Approaching our 58th anniversary of independence, I've reflected a lot on Jamaica's past, present and future. Most importantly, entering this new chapter of my life, I've thought about what I can do to contribute towards the Jamaica I envision- both individually and collectively.
As many of you know, I love supporting and using my platform to promote locally-made and sustainable brands. Supporting small, Jamaican-made businesses is so important. Now- more than ever- investing in these businesses can help to build brand Jamaica and boost our economy during this time of uncertainty.
A great new resource on Instagram that I came across is Shop Small Jamaica. They have an extensive list of Jamaican-made products and services, and I was able to discover some amazing brands! It's always so refreshing to see the movement build momentum and brands build more exposure.
While shopping locally-made can be a privilege, often not financially accessible to all, I'm very grateful to be able to and encourage others in similar positions to do so as well. How you choose to spend your money is very powerful, and shopping Jamaican-made is a way of voting with your dollars and supporting our island.
These three budding Jamaican-made businesses are ones to definitely keep an eye out for. They have been on my radar for the past few months, over quarantine, and I've fallen in love with each one. From apparel to skin-care to food products, it's always exciting to see a diversification of new and exciting locally-made products in the market.
JOINED FEELING
Joined Feeling is an hot new apparel brand bringing vibrancy and colour into your wardrobe. Their shirts are made in Jamaica and are printed locally and individually hand-dyed, making them unique and truly one-of-a-kind. With a range of designs, patterns and colour combinations, you have the option of choosing which one speaks to you, and being able to truly wear your narrative.
Their debut line will consist of a range of fun and electrifying tie-dye pieces. While I tried my hand at tie-dye, they didn't come out nearly as amazing as what Joined Feeling offers. Whether you're going for more of a monochromatic look or want to mix multiple colours, their apparel brings some well needed brightness and good energy to 2020.
While I may seem biased- since its founder is my sister, Emma Miles- I've been able to watch the dedication, pride, detail and heart put into every aspect of this Jamaican-made business first-hand. I am so excited that she's finally able to share it with the world. Make sure to follow them in preparation for their official launch on August 12th!
BUMBLE BEAUTY
Honey, if you're interested in glowing like a goddess, look no further than Bumble Beauty. Bumble Beauty is a natural honey-based skincare line offering a range of luxurious body butters and scrubs. Their products are made in Jamaica, by Jamaicans, using honey sourced from local apiaries. After these past few months, you deserve to treat yourself- and their products are the best way to do so.
They offer a selection of scents (Honey, Guava Sunrise, Mr. Sandman, and Tequila & Lime) which are packed with benefits for your skin! I've been looking for an alternative to my same-old drug-store lotion and their body butter seems right up my alley. Mr. Sandman looks like the perfect match for my skin's needs- and I'm so excited to get my hands on it. It's key ingredients- cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter and vanilla- are full of hydrating and soothing properties.
Customers are given the flexibility to shop both online or in-person. While you can opt for their delivery service, their products are available in store at EC Makeup Bar in Premier Plaza- where you can even test their line before purchasing. As a skincare fanatic, I can't wait to see Bumble Beauty build their hive!
FROZEN JOE'S
Frozen Joe's is a Jamaican-made ice cream brand perfect for any Jamaican with a sweet tooth. Their products are entirely made of natural ingredients, many of which are sourced locally, and contain no preservatives. There's something for everyone at Frozen Joe's; from their exciting weekly menus- constantly debuting new flavours- to their dairy, vegan and sorbet options.
I decided to order Joe's Dulce de Leche (dairy) and Coconut (vegan) flavours for my mum's birthday. Ordering was simple, and took less than five seconds via their order form. While I opted to pick-up my pints, they conveniently offer delivery across Kingston!
It's safe to say, Frozen Joe's has the formula. Their ice-cream is not only mouth-watering, but fresh and light- perfect for a hot, summer day. This week was their last week taking orders for the season. Nevertheless, I'm so excited to see what's in store for the future!
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