Eyeing Alicia HARTMAN
Jetting in for the tail end of Carnival was Peoples From Barbados (PFB) co-designer and director Alicia Hartman, who artfully juggled business and pleasure. Hartman unveiled her SS2019 collection of funky, truly Bajan eyewear at Eye Q Optical postsunrise Breakfast Party; engaged in private consultations later that evening in between bites of New York strip loin at the Steakhouse on the Verandah at Devon House; and was up at the crack of dawn for the Carnival Road March. A collaborative design effort between herself and French eyewear designer Eric Jean, the collection comprises a number of round, diamond, and flat-top frames from the Sundowners, Suga & Spice, and Sea Views lines, each design with the “Bajan Soul” stamp of approval.
I am in Kingston, Jamaica...
to bring Bajan soul through my eyewear collection Peoples From Barbados to Jamaica and its beautiful people to showcase the world Caribbean flair, and the hidden gems, culture, lifestyle and peoples of Barbados. We are one Caribbean and unique in every island. We are way beyond sun, sea and sand. We represent young Caribbean ambitiousness.
My favourite place to chill in Barbados is...
during a lovely drive to Cherry Tree Hill. Just me and and my thoughts. The trees leaning in the winding road truly are magical and whimsical, reminding of a fairy tale. A place to dream. A place to reflect. As you drive along it opens on the hill looking over the beautiful east coast of Barbados.
In Barbados it is...
truly understated luxury. Our brand of eyewear will showcase the quiet sophistication of Bajan people. Whether you love pudding and souse at Lemon Arbor, playing dominoes at Lexie’s, rum sours at Little Bristol, sunsets at La Cabane or the magical theatrical fine dining at the cliff you will always fall in love with the warmth of the people. Dare to be Peoples From Barbados. Bajan soul and Caribbean flair.
My Barbados (best-kept) secret is...
Sundays in Speightstown with my beautiful boys and hubby Sam. It’s family time. Rum sours at Little Bristol and sunsets at 111 Beach Club. Check out Speightstown during the week to mix with the locals and listen to the chat of the roadside market vendors. Speightstown is my beginnings and feels like home. Filled with village charm and history. The Arlington House Museum is truly special as it tells a story of Barbados and rum. Liquid gold.
If you could buy any building in Barbados and live there, which would it be?
A cute little chattel house on the west coast of Barbados. Nothing beats these sunsets. I would continue to be inspired by the beauty of Barbados and the Caribbean Sea.
What makes someone a true Caribbean national?
Hahaha, we saucy! Sugar and spice and everything nice! Pepper sauce, rum and Carnival.
Who’s your most iconic son/daughter of the Caribbean?
Our Bajan queen Riri. She is saucy! Definitely sugar and spice and everything nice. Her personal style and flair always unique. Her charisma and charm and down-to-earth nature make her a true Bajan gem and Caribbean girl. She can be sexy, girlie, bashy, all whilst casually being the biggest girl boss of all time. We all want to be like her. She is young Bajan ambitious. Yasss! Diamond!
Who do you call when you want to have fun in London?
My dear friend Georgina Harper, my artsy creative producer friend since our days in university. Though I’m an optometrist by profession, my love for dance, theatrics, table tops, arts keeps our friendship spicy while we’re miles apart. She will tell you that I debuted in a Carnival costume in rainy Manchester UK in front of a class full of drama students just because I love her. I also punched an Irish lad for pinching my butt in a bar. She makes me do things like the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, which I love. Basically, I brought Bajan soul and Caribbean flair to Georgina and she is forever hooked. She can even “wuk up” now!
What are you up to at the moment for work?
Wow, where to begin? I established Eye Q stylist opticians to offer a stylistic approach to eyecare and to make eyewear your number one accessory! To embrace your personal style and give each client a unique look in their glasses. The store has gained international recognition and given an optimum finalist award in 2018 for one of the top independent eyewear retailers in the world. In addition our eyewear brand Peoples From Barbados was recently featured on the cover of one of the world’s top eyewear magazines 20/20. Now as part of our Vision 2020 initiative we will offer free eye tests to select primary schools and businesses around Barbados, to reduce preventable blindness by 25 per cent by 2020. We will use our brand Peoples From Barbados to promote the culture, lifestyle, arts and people of Barbados. We will show the world that all people deserve great glasses and that the Caribbean is way more than sun, sea and sand.
Imagine an intimate dinner party with each guest wearing Peoples From Barbados eyewear. Share five of those on the guest list...
Riri, Mia Mottley, Common, Iris Apfel and oh, can we invite my sons Daman and Zai and my fisherman on the campaign cover? They would so put a spin on this!