Michel Chataigne brings Haitian couture to Brooklyn through hands-on workshop

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Haitian designer Michel Chataigne got hands-on during a recent Fashion & Cultural Identity Workshop at the Haiti Cultural Exchange (HCX) gallery in Crown Heights. At the March 29 workshop, Chataigne guided nearly 20 participants in selecting fabrics, colors, glitters, and shapes to create custom flower brooches.

He provided one-on-one instruction, teaching participants various techniques used in high-end fashion production while weaving in stories of Haitian history and its intersection with fashion.

Emphasizing the relationship between storytelling, craftsmanship, and diaspora identity, Chataigne demonstrated how to layer and pinch fabric to achieve textured, dimensional designs.

“Behind each and every piece, no matter if it’s historical, related to religion or spirituality, there’s meaning. It’s an important opportunity to learn more,” said Phelisha Midy, deputy team lead at the U.S. Agency for International Development, who was among those carefully cutting fabric into floral forms.

Midy said she joined the workshop to gain a deeper understanding of Haitian fashion.

“I learned about what freed women wore in Haiti,” she said. “I didn’t know about that part of history. It gave me a new perspective on how fashion and freedom intersect.”

A career-shaping Haitian fashion

Throughout his 40-year career, Chataigne has helped shape Haiti’s fashion and beauty industries, staging international shows and championing traditional Haitian craftsmanship. His designs often feature techniques such as Richelieu embroidery and straw weaving, emblematic of the artistry found in Haiti’s mountain communities.

As part of his residency with HCX, Chataigne presented his life’s work in “La Mode et Haïti,” an exhibition in Brooklyn that showcased his contributions across hair styling, accessories, and men’s and women’s fashion. The exhibit ran through April 13.

“In the entire Caribbean, only Haiti has a culture of sewing,” Chataigne said in an interview with The Haitian Times last month.

“Even in childhood, students had to pass an exam on sewing by the time they finished junior high school,” he said. “[It’s] ingrained in our culture.”

The residency represents both a milestone and a new beginning for Chataigne. After 40 years, his focus is shifting toward production, wealth creation, and sustaining the ateliers and artisans who continue to embody Haiti’s creative spirit.

For Naika Colas, a Haitian American sustainable design strategist and assistant professor at Parsons School of Design, the workshop offered inspiration to further integrate Haitian culture into her teaching.

“Michel shared so much meaningful context about his work and the value of traditional techniques,” Colas said. “It left me feeling inspired. I’d love to incorporate a workshop like this for my own students—something that blends craft, culture, and storytelling in a hands-on and impactful way.”

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