StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

...well, not exactly.   While Jamaicans everywhere are celebrating their country's track and field triumphs at the Bird's Nest in Beijing, I am celebrating Sophie Eyssautier, a French native who left behind a successful design career in Paris to move to Jamaica.  And, if I had a gold medal to bestow upon the best Jamaican-based design talent, it would go to Eyssautier.

At the urging of friends, Eyssautier opened Sophie's Callaloo Butik in Negril in 2002.  The label, called Callaloo (named after Eyssautier's favorite green, leafy Jamaican vegetable),

includes clothing and accessories for women and children (sundress above) as well as housewares, and is sold in a handful of Jamaican boutiques (although Noisette in Brooklyn occasionally carries a few pieces).

I got my first peek at Callaloo in the exquisitiely-curated boutique at Rockhouse Hotel (everyone from Bob Dylan to Nanette Lepore has checked in), and quickly learned of the label's success as items sold out on a daily basis.

As quoted in a local Jamaican magazine, Eyssautier says, "It is most important that my creations are made entirely in Jamaica.  I was tired of looking on labels only to find they were made in faraway countries."

 Each piece from the Callaloo collection is handcrafted, whether a beaded T shirt, printed bag, tank top with quirky embroidery (surprisingly Marni-esque), a madras infant onesie, or a flowing cotton dress perfect for Caribbean days and nights.

Best of all, indulging in a few pieces won't cramp your travel budget.  Bags cost about $30 or less, dresses max out at $60.  Prices go down from there.

Hungry for some Callaloo?
Check out www.callalloo-jam.com for more details.