Boldly Bahamian, beautifully designed. UB student artists Jhanaisia Cole, Jada Sands, and Siyan Rolle bring their unique inspirations to life in Bahama Hand Prints’ latest collection. From sea nettles to citrus and flamingos, their prints celebrate the beauty and culture of The Bahamas.
February 12, 2025 | Nassau, Bahamas – Bahama Hand Prints, a leading name in Bahamian textile artistry, has unveiled three exclusive prints designed by University of The Bahamas (UB) art students. The new collection is part of the brand’s Boldly Bahamian campaign, an initiative celebrating local talent and cultural heritage.
Since its launch in 2022, Boldly Bahamian has spotlighted Bahamian creatives, from muralists and chefs to Olympians and dancers. This year, in collaboration with UB professor and artist Heino Schmid, the brand challenged fine art students to design a custom print for an upcoming collection.
Over several weeks, students transformed hand-drawn sketches into striking textile patterns, in an effort to capture the essence of The Bahamas. The result: three unique designs inspired by land and sea. “Our mission has always been to celebrate and uplift Bahamian creativity,” said Alannah van Onselen, owner of Bahama Hand Prints. “By providing a platform for young artists to share their vision, we ensure that our culture continues to thrive in new and inspiring ways.”
UB sophomore Siyan Rolle has always been fascinated with flamingos. Her design, a vibrant pink print, features the country’s national bird interwoven with silhouettes of major Bahamian islands. “When Bahama Hand Prints, such a large and iconic brand reached out to us and stated that they wanted our designs, I was completely shocked,” she shares. “I felt both happy and accomplished.”
For Jhanaisia Cole, a UB junior and designer of the lilac “Sea Nettle” print, the experience was deeply personal. “Seeing my design on fabric and people wearing it means so much to me,” she said. “I’m obsessed with jellyfish—their beauty, their elegance, and the fact that they have no brains. I love that about them.”
Jada Sands, a UB senior, recalls vivid memories of days spent in the kitchen with her mother and father squeezing limes and lemons for “switcha” as the inspiration for her bold yellow print featuring lemon segments. “My mother would squeeze the lime into the pitcher and then give me the squeezed portion so I could taste it, and I wanted to capture that ‘in your face’ sensory experience in my design.”
In keeping with the tradition of a series of billboards to celebrate the Boldly Bahamian creatives, each artist showcased their textile design in a gown created by celebrated fashion designer Theodore Elyett.
“When Alannah told me about this concept, I was very excited because for me this is a new take, bringing new breath, new life and new blood into the design field,” shared Elyett. “I allowed the prints that these young ladies created to speak to me and that dictated the design.”
On Bahama Hand print’s significance for young Bahamian artists, Rolle states, “they really pride themselves on being authentically Bahamian and I believe they play a very significant role in supporting young artists.”
Through the Boldly Bahamian campaign, Bahama Hand Prints continues to honor its rich history while fostering the next generation of Bahamian artists. This collaboration highlights the intersection of tradition and innovation, celebrating young Bahamian artists and the stories behind their designs.
For more information and to view the Boldly Bahamian collection, visit www.bahamahandprints.com or follow Bahama Hand Prints on social media @bahamahandprints.
