Patsy’s Treasures and Hair Braiding

Patsy's Treasures

Barbadians have been neatly braiding their hair in cornrows from time immemorial. But when Bo Derek appeared on the silver screen in the motion picture "Ten" in the 1970's, the hairstyle immediately went viral, especially for young bikini clad ladies holidaying on tropical beaches. So one afternoon, on her day off from her job as a domestic helper, Patsy was plaiting a friend's hair on the beach when a visitor asked her if she would mind doing hers too. Before she knew it Patsy had re-invented herself as a "beach vendor," braiding visitors' hair from early morning till night. "One day, my husband, who operated a glass bottom boat, brought home a wrap that a guest had left behind. I copied it and sold my first wrap the very next day at Coral Reef Club". Soon Patsy was braiding hair and selling wraps on the beach by day and stitching by night. Business was booming and she managed to build her first house when she was just 23. Today, beach vendors are not permitted to walk and sell in Barbados, but must conduct their business from a stall. Patsy was very fortunate to get a spot on the beach next to the Surfside Beach Bar and Restaurant behind the post office in Holetown. She called her enterprise "Patsy's Treasures" and began to branch out. Patsy now also makes jewellery, crochets hats with beads, and designs and sews a wide selection of cool, colourful casual wear. Her son Ronald is her business partner, making jewellery and selling caps and T-shirts. She also sells other crafts such as hand painted bags and cloth dolls handmade by her friends. Bo Derek's fashion trend still lives on 30 years later, as Patsy is still braiding the hair of lovely bikini clad ladies on their beach holiday in Barbados!