Danielle Saint-Lot works to expand global markets for Haitian artisans

If the Haiti Creative Holiday Marketplace is a lifeline, then Danielle Saint-Lot is the force carrying it across borders. 

A former Haitian minister of commerce, industry and tourism, Saint-Lot has spent decades working with women entrepreneurs, artisans and small-business owners. Her background in international trade and economic development has informed much of her recent work supporting Haiti’s craft sector, which has faced years of economic decline and insecurity.

A vision born in crisis

The first edition of the Haiti Creative Craft Show was launched by the Danielle Saint-Lot Women’s Foundation in Miami in June 2025. What began as a single event revealed strong interest among members of the Haitian diaspora and among consumers seeking Haitian-made products.

The foundation also organized a holiday marketplace last November in Washington DC after people called for the marketplace to be brought to new cities and a more recent one was held in May. Guests gathered to pay tribute to the work of Haitian businesswomen, artists, and leaders through cultural exhibits, handcrafted products, and networking sessions.

Saint-Lot said there were ongoing discussions about future editions in Atlanta, Boston, and the Bahamas.

Saint-Lot said there were ongoing discussions about future editions in Atlanta, Boston, and the Bahamas.

“People were calling, messaging, asking when the next one would be,” Saint-Lot shared. “It wasn’t just a marketplace; it became a platform of hope.”

Interest on social media, particularly within diaspora Facebook groups, confirmed that Haitian creators had an audience extending far beyond the island. For Saint-Lot, the goal was not only to create sales opportunities but also to establish a more consistent market for artisans whose businesses have been affected by instability in Haiti.

Restoring a declining creative economy

The crafts industry of Haiti once generated almost $25 million in exports during the 1980s. Today, that number has come down below $1 million following two decades of political instability, the aftermath of the embargo during the 1990s, and continuing gang-related blockades that have cut off artisans from Port-au-Prince and the Labadee cruise port. 

Saint-Lot said the marketplace was created in part to help artisans reach consumers through alternative channels.

“If artisans can no longer sell in the capital, we bring the market to them,” she said. 

Designers participating in the marketplace source goods from regions including Léogâne, Jacmel, Abricots, Croix-des-Bouquets, and Hinche. Organizers say the marketplace has also created opportunities for digital sales, wholesale partnerships, and museum-shop collaborations.

Championing women as cultural pillars

The Saint-Lot’s foundation puts women artisans at the heart of its mission, not as beneficiaries but as cultural and economic leaders. 

Many workshops across Haiti employ between 10 and 15 artisans, most of whom are women, producing embroidery, beadwork, sequined pieces and other textile crafts. Insecurity has forced many of these ateliers to shut down or scale back production. Some business owners have even lost everything to armed violence and were forced to relocate to Miami or Cap-Haitien. 

Sales generated through the Miami and Washington events provided an important source of income for participating artisans, some of whom had experienced months of limited business activity.

“Every marketplace keeps artisans working, preserves irreplaceable skills, and sustains hope,” Saint-Lot said. 

Among the products featured at the marketplace are handbags by designer Dayanne Danier, produced by teams of women artisans whose livelihoods depend on access to stable markets.

Phelicia Dell, an artist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur, said Saint-Lot encouraged her to pursue opportunities beyond Haiti.

“I first met Danielle in Pétion-Ville, Haiti, at a time when I was deeply focused on my work as an artist and designer but largely operating behind the scenes,” Dell said. “Danielle recognized the value of my work and believed that I should no longer remain in the shadows.”

Dell said Saint-Lot later introduced her to organizations, including Femmes en Démocratie and the Vital Voices network.

“Through her support, I was introduced to Femmes en Démocratie and later the Vital Voices network,” Dell said. “Those experiences helped me better understand my purpose as a woman, artist, and entrepreneur.”

Dell described Saint-Lot as someone who actively connects women entrepreneurs with professional and international networks.

“Her impact lives in the many women and entrepreneurs whose lives have been transformed because she believed in them,” Dell said.

Building connections through the diaspora

For both the Washington, D.C. and diaspora editions, engagement proved integral. The event was supported by Haitian diplomatic missions in both Miami and D.C., and embassy-hosted receptions brought in members of the diplomatic corps as well as community leaders. Those in attendance didn’t simply shop, but inquired about the artisans behind the work, and helped spread the mission across social media.

Their buying was deeply intentional. While the turnout in D.C. was smaller, many still shopped with purpose, aware that each sale directly supported women-led businesses across Haiti. 

Saint-Lot is also developing a hybrid digital marketplace intended to connect Haitian creators with buyers year-round.

She believes long-term support from the diaspora will be essential to the sustainability of Haiti’s craft sector.

“The closer Haitians abroad feel to the artisans on the island, the more sustainable the craft economy becomes,” she said. “Every time someone brings home a piece made in Haiti, they are carrying more than an object; they are carrying a story.”

More than a marketplace

Saint-Lot’s work comes at a time when Haiti’s artisans face growing economic and security challenges. Through the marketplace and related initiatives, she has focused on creating new opportunities for artisans to reach international consumers while preserving traditional forms of craftsmanship.

The initiative has received support from the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, and sponsors including Colo Couronne, Digicel International, Kreyòl Essence, and Sunrise Airways.

As the marketplace expands beyond Miami and Washington, Saint-Lot said her focus remains on helping Haitian artisans access new markets while maintaining connections between creators in Haiti and communities abroad.

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