The highlight of my visit to St. Kitts was the Caribelle Batik factory, a working Batik fabric
and clothing/accessory producer located on the idyllic spot of an old sugar plantation, nestled against a swathe of rainforest. The Batik factory itself is actually a relatively small operation staffed by a few people in a perfectly restored Victorian-era plantation house. It’s a great opportunity to find a souvenir made by local folks, rather than imported from overseas as many “island” souvenirs actually are.
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In addition to having the most dangerous gift shop known to man (or more to the point, woman) you can watch batiks being made, and the house itself is one of the most picturesque places in the Caribbean.
You can see the batiks drying out on the rack. A wider view gives context to the main building (that’s the ocean in the background).
The fabrics themselves glow with the bright colors. They will fade if exposed to sun for a long time, though, so this pretty scene is only temporary:
The front of the old plantation house demonstrates how Victorian gingerbread detail manifested in the Caribbean. My hometown, Arcata, California, has the American version, which is even more elaborate but uses larger patterns and a less “Caribbean” color scheme.
I did a watercolor of this house after I got back, adding my own twist to its color schemes:
The view behind this house (to the right, walk straight back and a little to the left) is a view of the volcanic peak which rises up and forms the middle of the island. The old smokestack is from the old sugar plantation.
All in all it’s harder to find a lovelier spot than this one and it’s a reminder that the most charming spots in the Caribbean are often away from the beach.
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