Ships worldwide from Trinidad and Tobago. Studio pickup available in Diego Martin. Call or WhatsApp (868) 682-4063
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Ships worldwide from Trinidad and Tobago. Studio pickup available in Diego Martin. Call or WhatsApp (868) 682-4063
Home / About
RACHEL’S STORY
Land of the Hummingbird grew from Rachel’s love of the birds, flowers and landscapes of Trinidad and Tobago, and from the joy she finds in photographing them. She wanted to bring those images into everyday life, creating beautiful, useful pieces that authentically represent these islands.
Chapter One
Rachel was born in the UK and has called Trinidad home since 1999. For more than twenty years, she has photographed the flora and fauna of these islands: in forests and wetlands, at bird sanctuaries, along forest trails and in her own pollinator garden.
Not long after moving to Trinidad, Rachel started making greeting cards featuring her photographs of tropical flowers that were so exotic to her having grown up in a cooler climate.
As she became more fascinated with hummingbirds and her photography developed, she started adding hummingbirds to her greeting card collection and quickly came to understand how these joyful, flying jewels are universally loved.
In 2018, a friend wanting to buy a hummingbird gift for Rachel, was surprised that it was so difficult to find anything with a hummingbird image on it, and the only things that did have hummingbirds featured birds that were not found in Trinidad and Tobago. Seeing a business opportunity, Rachel transformed some of her hummingbird photographs into a surface pattern design, had it printed on fabric and made tea towels to see what would happen.
The Name
Trinidad and Tobago is known as the Land of the Hummingbird (due to its historical role in shipping hummingbirds to Europe for the millinery trade more than a hundred years ago), so it was a natural choice to name Rachel’s new brand The Land of the Hummingbird.
Today, Rachel’s original photography and designs appear across collections of homeware, accessories, gifts and fine art—bringing the colour and character of Trinidad and Tobago into everyday life.
Every bird, flower and landscape in the collections begins with a photograph taken by Rachel in Trinidad and Tobago.
That origin gives the work its integrity. These are authentic local species and real places: a Ruby Topaz flashing red and gold in the sunlight, a Scarlet Ibis crossing the evening sky, or a tiny Tufted Coquette foraging among the flowers.
The result is so much more than just a generic tropical decoration. Each piece carries a connection, to nature, to a remembered place and for many people, to home.
How it is made
Every collection is developed in Trinidad and Tobago, with production kept deliberately small-scale.
Pieces are printed, sewn, made or finished locally in partnership with small and micro businesses, predominantly women-owned.
Fabrics are produced in small batches and eco-friendly inks are used wherever possible. Rachel cuts all the fabric by hand and the pieces are sewn locally to the highest standards. The finished pieces are designed to be washed, used and enjoyed.
Rachel’s photography has appeared in local and international publications and has been exhibited in galleries across Trinidad and Tobago. Her photography and surface design have also been recognised by the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago.
She continues to photograph, design and tend her pollinator garden from her studio in Diego Martin always looking for the next bird, the next flower and the next garden delight.
Nothing here is mass produced. Some designs sell out. Some are made to order and take a few weeks. That is the trade we have chosen.
The collections are made in small batches on fabrics chosen to be washed and used.
Chosen for fabric that gets washed, not for a shelf.
Small and micro businesses, predominantly women-owned.
We design everything in Trinidad and Tobago. Manufacturing is more complicated, so here it is in full.
Linens
Printed in the USA, then cut and sewn in Trinidad.
Pins and keychains
Designed here, made in the USA or China.
Everything else
Printed or made in Trinidad and Tobago.
The photographs
Always ours, and always taken here.
Lead time
One lead-time system still to be chosen. Three are currently in circulation.
Published in local and international magazines. Exhibited in galleries across Trinidad and Tobago. Awarded for photography and surface design by the Art Society of T&T.
Find us
Online, through several retail partners and selected markets across the islands. Studio visits and pick-up in Diego Martin by arrangement.
