Diamonds

Okuta Iyebiye, means Diamonds in yoruba.

This is the title of my 2022 Mens Collection created especially as we celebrate Emancipation

No I'm not from Africa but as a Caribbean citizen  my African ancestry is dear to me. It is a great part of  who I am.

And although our country is one of the most cosmopolitan, we enjoy the freedom to celebrate our uniqueness.

Emancipation is now celebrated as a public holiday in the region because organisations lead by strong Afro leaders fought for its existence, so we don't forget our history and contribution our forefathers made after being brought to the Caribbean as slaves to work in the sugar plantations

Thanks to the revolutionary endeavour s of our nieghbours Haiti, who led the fight for the freedom of these slaves, Emancipation finally came.

So during the months of June, July, till August frist the emphasis is on raising awareness, promoting education and exploring the culture, the music, the food.

Its a beautiful, colorful time of celebration, cumukating in a huge street parade, when we all get dressed in our  ethnic wear and join in celebrating who we are.

So my research for my collection, brought me to  the Diamond Fields of Africa and as my imagination ran riot on the whole process of how diobds are formed and their variety and worth I taught how similar life is.. Diamonds are found rough and Uncut, they are then put through a process of pounding, cutting and fire, they are then polished to bring them to perfection.

Isn't that like how some of our lives are, when we are being directed to find our purpose. The obstacles that face us, seem to take us through a transformation, that's much like the process  creating a diamond, some things we go through seem to be like we are going through the fire

But as we apply ourselves and understand we begin to see purpose ahd we begin to shine, nothing like being in the hands of a master craftsman

So today no matter where you are in the process, know there will be only one outcome, you are being crafted to be a most precious rock  a Diamond

Follow me @www.intagram.com/christiqueclothing for the full collection and remember part proceeds of my sales goes towards my iniatative.s to assist girls and women in begining new lives after  Domestic Abuse