One hundred entrepreneurs were given the chance to trade and sell their crafts along with the launch of a new e-commerce platform at Craft Hub TT- The National Christmas Village and Craft Market 2022. The Craft Hub was a collaboration between the Trinidad and Tobago SheTrades Hub and the Export Centres Company Limited (ECCL) and took place on Saturday, December 10th 2022 at the Queen’s Park Savannah Paddock.    

 Following COVID-19, the Craft Hub provided local craftsmen with a tangible location to advertise and sell their products. exporTT, together with the International Trade Centre (ITC), promoted 28 women-led businesses from the Trinidad and Tobago SheTrades Hub programme. Nine of those 28 companies are Tobago-based. The event showcased a variety of handcrafted and handmade goods that were made available to the general public, retailers, and important stakeholders for the 2022 Christmas season.   

 The event also served to publicise the recently formed e-commerce platform – Parlour Caribbean, a collaboration between the ECCL and Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT). Parlour Caribbean encourages export preparedness while enabling artisans to sell and trade their handcrafted goods with network delivery all over the world.  

 The market was officially opened by the line minister for Export Centres Company Limited, Minister of Sport and Community Development, the Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe. exporTT’s General Manager Dhanraj Harrypersad, was also present for the opening of the market.  

In her remarks about the event’s success, Minister Cudjoe emphasised the importance of sustainable growth for the craft industry: “The intention is to always keep it local, of course. You will have different collaborations taking place, but the intention is always to keep it as local as possible because it’s about economic growth and certain jobs and creating another form of income.”    

 Here is a list of the Trinidad and Tobago SheTrades Hub businesses that participated at the Craft Hub this year:    

• Twinkles Accessories    
• Breadedheart.tt   

• T/A J Craft Creations    
• Tobago Wyck    
• Elements of Style   
• Windy’s Fashion   
• Christique Clothing    

• Sandra Tronchin   
• Island Tees    
• Sherraine’s Tie Dye    
• Osanie    
• Crown +Luxe    

• La Roche Unique Designs    
• Aya Naturals Limited (Aya Harvest Ltd)   
• Nick’s Homemade Ice Cream    
• Tom Tom’s Local Confectionery    
• Charlo Farm    

• Caribbean Speciality Foods Co. Limited    
• House of Anastasia    
• T’s Homemade Treats    
• IBT Hair and Skincare Limited    
• Mountain Rose Boutique    

• Yes It’s Me Body Products    
• Pinkberri Kosmetique    
• Mya Jay’s Earthly Essentials    
• The Kuttage Artisan Boutique    
• Print on Demand   

• Roson’s Soft Furnishing