Port of Spain, Trinidad — Devoted Trinidadians throughout the world can now show their patriotism with one-of-a-kind apparel and accessories, thanks to the recent expansion of a top provider of custom-designed merchandise honoring The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
TriniSpirit’s collection of more than 1,000 customized products is now available online for purchase and ships to more than 200 countries including Trinidad, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, to name a few.
“Our newly redesigned website allows for the collaboration of artists to contribute to the global recognition of Trinidad and Tobago through artistic renditions of Trini-isms worn by the people who appreciate them,” said President Gregory Gonzalez. “As demand for our products increases among Trinidadians living abroad, we plan to expand to include artistic and photographic prints on calendars, custom-designed Keds for Carnival and a wider selection of greeting cards.”
Unlike other retailers of Trinidad-branded products, TriniSpirit features designs that are homegrown by a group of independent artists and resonate with the Trinidadian culture. Individual artists are invited to make submissions for design themes like “Sweet T&T,” “Fresh Water Yankee” and “Corbeau Eating Spongecake” for copyrights and commissions on an ongoing basis.
“TriniSpirit allows artists to have their work portrayed on anything from a t-shirt to a keychain,” said independent graphic artist Kristi Bachan. “In addition to earning royalties for these designs, each artist plays a part in spreading the true Trinidadian culture and making our country known to the rest of world.”
Interested artists can sign up through the website’s contact form by selecting “design” in the “additional interests” section.
TriniSpirit was created in 2006, when Trinidad and Tobago’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup increased demand for patriotic clothing and flags. The collection—which started with a handful of warrior flags, caps, bandanas and jackets—quickly became popular among Trinidadians living abroad and has since grown to include dozens of custom designs on hundreds of products ranging from key chains and holiday cards to fitted tees and tote bags.
Gift certificates, which can be purchased online and emailed instantly, are also a popular option during the holiday season.
To help further its mission of spreading Trinidadian culture, TriniSpirit in 2010 will launch a “sister” website dedicated to fostering community development in the country’s disadvantaged areas. The site will help Trinidadians living abroad provide resources to schools, sports teams and the underprivileged in Trinidad and Tobago.
