‘Back to My Roots’ in San Ignacio, Belize is an alluring and charming store selling rasta inspired jewelry, accessories, arts and craft and clothing. In my Galen days I would pass the store on Burns avenue every week always wanting to stop and go in but never had the time. Then I finally got dragged in with a friend looking for piercing stuff. Anyways, I loved the ambience, originality and authenticity of the store and made it a mark on which to come back to once bzhypemeter was under way. Well, I was finally back a couple weeks ago to talk to owners, Carlton and Barbara , about the history of their store and how it became a success.

 

Carlton and Barbara have actually been a couple long before the store existed. But it is this great bond and teamwork that has been the back bone of back to my roots for a great portion of its 17 years now. Barbara is actually from Switzerland and met Carlton on vacation in Belize. Carlton used to be a fisherman out at Caye Caulker, he got into making little bead chains in the slow season. He said he tried to venture more into textile but over the years he has been more successful selling jewelry.

It wasn’t always a cool store at a great location tho; they started out just travelling to fairs, shows and even markets. Then they moved around San Ignacio for quite a few years before settling into the Burns avenue location for the last 3 years.

With all the economic problems it is quite the feat for ‘Back to My Roots’ to continue their growth. ‘Back to My Roots’ also supports local Belizean artists, selling their products in their store. The name ‘Back To My Roots’ Carlton expresses, comes from the idea of his ancestors being traders and merchants back in the old days.

‘Back To My Roots’ receives sales not only from tourists but also from the local market in San Ignacio. Carlton recognizes the value of the Red, Gold and Green history and its significance in Belize. He explains that the green represents the earth, the gold for the sun and the red for the blood that all people have in common.

Carlton does realize that being in the Arts and Crafts business is a challenge because when things are hard he states, “Arts and Craft gets put at the back of people’s budgets as they have to take care of food and bills first.” But even with such a challenge they have been successful perhaps because of the meaning behind their business –as the store front says, ‘Art from the Heart’.

Back to My Roots products are also available at a few resorts for example at Roberts Grove in Placencia and as mentioned they still hit up shows such as Lobster fest or Agriculture show. Hopefully we see them online selling at sites like jasfybelize soon.

More cool stuff in this cool store:

P.S. Select Jasfy Clothing pieces are now available at Back to My Roots in San Ignacio, Cayo…so check that out 🙂