Dillon De Shong (Loop News) writes about Saba’s lace production and how the island earned its nickname as “The Island of Lace.” [Many thanks to Peter Jordens for bringing this item to our attention.]
Ingenuity in the face of hardship is a prevailing theme for many countries and territories in the Caribbean.
And Saba, despite its small size and tranquil atmosphere, is no exception to this trend.
In fact, it was their ingenuity that enabled Saba’s women to establish a lucrative cottage industry, allowing them to improve their families’ quality of life from the 1880s into the 1900s, as their male counterparts left the island to work at sea.
What industry is that you might ask?
Saba’s unique, masterpiece thread work earned the island its first nickname “The Island of Lace” since it became a hot seller worldwide—particularly in the United States.
Saba Lace, sometimes called “Spanish Work”, was introduced to the island by Mary Gertrude Hassell Johnson when she returned home after learning the craft during her schooling at a convent in Caracas, Venezuela.
Johnson passed on her knowledge to a few women and the cottage industry was born.
In the early stages, the women created their elaborate pieces and the men would sell them during expeditions to neighbouring islands.
When the mail service established a frequent connection with the outside world in 1884, the industrious Sabans pounced on the opportunity to diversify their fortunes outside of what was provided by agriculture and fishing.
Without any clients, the brave and entrepreneurial-minded women wrote to merchants to enquire about selling their products internationally.
After writing several letters, the women got their big break. [. . .]
Read more at https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/hardship-heritage-story-sabas-lace-making-women