Return To Ayiti: Michel Chataigne

This photo series adds and maintains the collective memory of the Haitian people. Through fashion: fabric and ritual, we remember who we are, where we come from and honor the Haitian icons who revealed who we are to the world. 

At the heart of this project is the work of Michel Chataigne, one of Haiti’s most important fashion designers. He is a visionary whose designs have shaped Haitian identity, style, and presence on the global stage. In a country that too often fails to document the artists who break barriers, this series uses his garments not just as fashion, but as living archives. Each look is a testimony to his legacy; 40 years we will not forget.

We honor our people through makeup inspired by Taino and African traditions, and through the textures of home by using CMU blocks. Laces are sewn directly into the photographs, marking each portrait with the visual language of the everyday materials found in the memories of our Haitian upbringing. 
This is not just about aesthetics; it is about preservation. As our people continue to face war and erasure, we respond with what we have: Some with oral history, some with fabric or art, and most with an unbreakable bond with their soil.