Michel Chataigne and Makendy Smith
In a context marked by insecurity and the contraction of the local market, Artisanat en Fête, scheduled for December 20 and 21 at the Frères de Pétion-Ville, appears as one of the few spaces of visibility and survival for Haitian creators. Guests on Magik 9 this Thursday 19 December, stylist Michel Chataigne and Makendy Smith, representative of the brand "Mak pa nou", made a clear observation: creativity is intact, but production and marketing opportunities are becoming scarce, stifled by insecurity and competition from low-priced imported clothing.
According to Michel Chataigne, Haitian creators continue to innovate despite unfavourable economic conditions. However, production remains limited due to lack of market opportunities in the local market. It points to the massive presence of foreign clothing, especially Chinese, sold at very low prices, making it difficult to compete with local creations whose production costs have increased sharply with the high cost of inputs in Haiti.
The designer also admits to facing a staggering lack of commercial windows. He entrusts no longer having permanent space to expose his creations since the displacement of the Mikado, located on the airport road, forced to close his annex due to insecurity. Despite this, Michel Chataigne claims to have stock, including handbags produced since January 2025, which struggle to find a buyer.
A similar finding is made by Makendy Smith, representative of the trade mark « Mak pa nou », specialized in the manufacture of leather sandals. As a participant in the Festival Crafts since 2009, he believes that the situation in the craft sector has ceased to complicate over the years, between declining purchasing power and security instability.
Makendy Smith appeals to the public, stressing that the presence of visitors at Artisan at the Feast is not only essential financial support, but also psychological support for artisans who struggle to continue to exist and create. For these actors in the sector, the event remains a crucial showcase to keep Haitian creation alive, despite an increasingly hostile environment.
W.A.
