Back in 2013 we had a jewelry team member who had a pate business in the mornings. I asked her who she bought her chodyè from and if she could introduce me. She brought in a young man, Jeff. Jeff’s father had a chodyè business (traditionally used in Haiti to make large pots for cooking) and had just recently passed away. Jeff had inherented the craft, but at the time he was maybe 19 or 20. I gave him an old bangle I had from Madewell and asked if he could cast it. Little by little we started discovered other techniques and styles he could make with the sand casted aluminum. He then switched to making chodye jewelry full time with a team of his own.

At one point we were experimenting and I gave him a set of letters to try and stamp the bracelets. He discovered how to make them look really smooth and add the black accent. From there, the message bracelets grew.

These Malleable, sand casted aluminum cuff with a message are so loved. Each cuff has a message with a story!

The first one he brought me I believe was “Tout Bagay Deja Byen”, which means “Everything is already well” or “It is well”, a phrase he chose.

“Kite Yo Pale” was inspired by a sticker on the side of the moto of a driver for HDC. I always loved it.

In 2022, a dear HDC friend, Anne-Marjorie introduced a limited edition bracelet with the message “Lavi abandons”. You can click here to learn more about the story behind it

The aluminum team’s motto is “Tèt ansan fè n ou viv pi bèl”, ‘With our heads together, we can live more beautifully”. Learn more about Jeff and his team through this video