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OPENING HOURS
MON-FRI 8AM-5PM
SATURDAY
10AM-2PM
Services Offered Screen Printing Heat Transfer Promotional Items Large Format Printing Signs Stickers & Labels Banner Printing Graphic Designing
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Editorial In light of the Christmas spirit I found it only right to share some words of inspiration as we forego the ending to what have been quite an interesting journey for us here, at Foxsquare. It’s often said “If you want good, your nose have to run” and quite literally it did. Foxsquare was built on the ideals of becoming more than your average magazine outlet but building our very own community that embodies life journey of inspiration, laughter and tears but in the midst of it all there is light at the end of the tunnel. With that said, our team have carefully put together articles that showcases talent, hard work and determination. We highlight traditional and non-traditional methods of earning a living in today’s world of technology while taking the time out to enjoy some of our favourite local cuisines. We take this time to wish our readers Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Pascual Gray
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t. Ann, the garden parish of
Jamaica is home of James Lawrence who was raised in the Mount Edgecombe Community, where he grew up seeing his older brother and his friends skating in a gully nearby after school. “Being the younger one, I remember watching them from the side-lines, joining them while being on the back of my older brother and pulling my tricycle in every direction they went, wishing to be just like them” said Lawrence. Lawrence’s passion for roller skating grew with him but it wasn’t up until his final year of high school that he made a decision to turn his dream into a reality. “I remember walking around asking all my friends if they had a skate until I finally got a used one for $1500. In my excitement, I decided I was going to skate home that said evening but in actuality I fell repeatedly along the way home.” Lawrence recalled The risk associated with this hobby varies from broken limbs, separated joins to head injuries, just to name a few. However, that had no impact on Lawrence’s drive to learn and master the technique. While learning to skate, Lawrence realized the importance of learning to break his fall and wearing protective gears so as to limit his injuries. Having no area in Jamaica dedicated to skaters increases the risk, leaving them to skate in the roads alongside vehicles, in gullies or even on the sidewalk next to pedestrians. “Doing this is very risky, you can start off on a smooth surface only to suddenly be on a rugged edge which can prove hazardous. It takes bravery and technique to manipulate such circumstances ” Lawrence shared.
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Skating for Lawrence has become something more than a form of expression, but therapeutic. Being able to transfer excessive energy into adrenaline while staying healthy and fit played a tremendous role in the man he is today. “Having too much free time on your hands tend to get people in trouble, so why not pick up a skate and learn something more on the edge” Lawrence highlighted. In celebration of Jamaica’s Independence, Lawrence surpassed his expectations when he was invited to perform for his country. Lawrence recalled “Grand Gala was an awesome experience performing in front of th Prime Minister and thousand of people; and sharing that experience with my mom and younger sister made it even better.” Lawrence aspires to take his hobby to the next level from performing in music videos to qualifying for the World Skating Championship. He is hoping to showcase Jamaica’s talent while taking the skating world by storm as he infuses his passion and creativity into phenomenal display.
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R
ugby in Jamaica continues to grow rapidly since its inception in 1958, by The Jamaican Rugby Football Association governing body which now has nine (9) clubs, four (4) of which plays women rugby. Just like any other sport, the objective of the game is for your team to score more than your opponent. While this is not a traditional sport in Jamaica, the knowledge and interest has grown vastly. Oshane Edie, captain of the National Rugby team was first introduced to the sport in High School after accompanying his friend to training “I remember watching them train and seeing the precision of tackle, which reminded me of “bend down and stucky” a game I use to play when I was much younger. It was right there and then I said to myself, hey I can do this and tried out the following day.” said Edie
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Rugby Union is played with two (2) teams of fifteen (15) or seven (7). In Rugby you can kick and run with the ball forward but more interestingly, is that you can only pass the ball backways or sideways. This makes the process of thinking equally as important as tackle strategies. “I still remember how horrible that first day was, it was raining and for the life of me I just could not catch the ball, I had numerous opportunity to score but between my butter fingers and me falling on my face, the ball just kept crashing down. But I stick with the game and that made me the man I am today.” Edie recalled
gave me a sense of pride and love that I never got from the traditional sports.” Edie expressed.
Scrum-off, a position in rugby is where Edie is tasked to distribute, create plays and restart the game while organizing and motivating his teammates. “I have played a variety of sports, more commonly seen growing up in Jamaica, but playing Rugby
Major challenges for the sport include sponsorship, lacking the fundamentals to get the team together prior to a tournament and organizing a training camp to better strategize a game plan to cohesively carry out the chemistry needed in a game. Having
Representing Jamaica in the Rugby Sevens World Cup in San Francisco, remains Edie’s greatest accomplishment; scoring the first try ever in the World Cup game, making him a living icon. “Up to this day it is still mind blowing and something I hold dear to me, an experience that can’t be relived; qualifying for the first time for the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, Lima now puts Jamaica in contention for the Olympics which my team and I are excited about” Edie highlighted.
to face off with professional players worldwide who have made rugby a career and are being compensated as such, it still remains difficult to maintain the supplements needed for our local players performing solely for the love of the sport. Traditionalizing rugby in Jamaica for boys and girls is top priority for Edie “I hope that someday Rugby will become the second language of our island just as how football is engraved in us, there is a saying that “rugby don’t find the family, the family finds rugby” which means that the sports embodies all the qualities of a family, love, trust and support “said Edie.
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K
arrell Bloomfield, owner of Kaii. Bees launched her online store this year. Having completed her Degree in Information Technology with a Networking minor, it came as a surprise to many when she decided not to forego the traditional route of seeking employment; but instead started her own business. “The initial conversation with my family was greeted with tremendous support. At the time, I was unemployed and saw the opportunity to maximize on what was once dreams between college friends.” said Bloomfield Being an entrepreneur, is a road many travel but very few succeed as there are really no hidden secrets in becoming successful. Bloomfield however, comes from a family of entrepreneurs which fuels her desires and passion for business. “It was almost as though entrepreneurship was ingrained in my being since my grandparents on both sides are business owners. It felt almost natural to try a business of my own.” Bloomfield shared Karrell Bloomfield has strategically in-cooperated her knowledge from her University Degree in the growth and development of her business with the implementation of a system that includes an inventory, daily reports and reports on items frequently purchased. With such vast technological advancement in place, Kaii.Bees continues to grow within its niche. Kaii.Bees offers a wide range of exquisite items to include stainless steel jewelry, hand bags, purses and other
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personal body care items. The brand Kaii.Bees remains steadfast in the competitive market, having reaffirmed its quality and uniqueness among each item. It can be difficult carving a brand image out in the business environment. “Difficulties I have faced in the initial start-up of the business included minimal start-up capital, lack of brand image as also trying to find new and innovative ways to add my own unique twist to the business” Bloomfield expressed. This is not uncommon to other young entrepreneurs because the banks do not readily give loans since they would be considered high risked. In addition, without a brand image persons tend to shy away from purchasing or exploring a new market. Most small businesses face the risk of being here one minute and
gone the next, but success is the result of hard work, perseverance and learning from failures. In years to come Karrell Bloomfield hopes to make Kaii.Bees a household name and trusted brand as she stresses the importance for upcoming entrepreneurs to network. “Networking is important because in business “one help the other” is not necessarily a bad thing.” said Bloomfield
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Fashion Designer
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raduated from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Anick Walters extends her love for art, music and fashion with the launching of her very own brand Urbany. “I have uniquely incorporate street style with a trendy yet urban appeal, while adding a little of myself in each piece; thus giving my customers a fusion of cultural and sexual appeal” said Walters This journey all started at a young age while being raised in Westmoreland, Jamaica. Walters creativity could be seen in her oufits. “I remembered up scaling my clothes into various colours or additional pieces just to add a little me in it” she recalled. Since then Walters has been designing professionally for six (6) years; from swim wear to casual designs. With constant changes in fashion, Urbany designs have remained at the peak of what’s trendy. “Urbany sustains the key component of what makes us uniquely different while adding an element of risk and flair in meeting the demands of our customers. Walters shared Young local designers are often times ripped off by bigger brands providing lower price points for the mass market, leaving emerging designers to reduce their price point in efforts to remain on a competitive edge, while still facing scrutiny of the value placed on the items are challenges faced by every day designers, Walters had this to say “A designers spending more time with the design, quality and presentation should stand firm behind the cost of an item, not everyone will see the value, time and effort placed in a product, so re-establishing your brand while reaffirming its locally made collectable ethnicity has aided me in receiving the true value of my items.”
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hristopher Taylor, a well renowned name in track and field both locally and internationally, attends Calabar High school based in St. Andrew. Taylor’s passion for the sport started out as most ten (10) year old kids do, just for the fun. “I remember running in any race just to have fun, but it was around a year later that I had realized schools were taking interest in my potential, not knowing that one (1) day I would be breaking records” said Taylor.
In only his second year of high school, things took a turning point, Taylor recalled “It was at this point I could see what others saw in me, the potential to be great. With an intensive track and field program I became faster, understood the sport and technique much clearer and by 3rd form I made my statement and haven’t looked back since.” As most athletes know, balancing a life of sports and academics can be strenuous and exhausting; with long training hours, incomplete assignments and studying for exams. These are some of the factors that young athletes such as Taylor has to face, leaving us to ponder just how they do it.
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Earlier this year, Christopher Taylor was named Captain of the Jamaica IAAF U20 team that competed in Tampa, Florida and was featured on the IAAF’s U20 list of top 10 persons to watch. “Seeing my name on the list was overwhelming and motivated me even more to go out there and give my all; I have had such a great season, going in with
Question 1: Where is your favourtite place to eat out? Answer: Home I don’t really go out and eat in Jamaica, but when I do it is KFC. Question 2: There has been alot of back & forth where your high school track& field success is concerned and those who would have created upset in alot of the races, primarily Jhevaughn Matherson (KC track athlete) On both your best days, who would win the race? Answer: That would be a race but more so I would say me because I am more experienced than him with race and competition. Question 3: In your spare time, what fun activites do you enjoy? the two (2) fastest times in the 200m and 400m. Being given the opportunity to lead my team members as their captain is truly an honour and a dream come true.” Taylor expressed Leading up to the U20 national meet, Taylor’s greatest challenge was suffering from back pains and hamstring injuries in the early season. He recalled, “Setting the 100m record was surprising, I never expected to run that fast or that I had it in me, I just remembered thinking “Just run Chris just run!” It was that mindset I approached the 400m which lead to an amazing performance”. Taylor’s drive and technique has been uniquely crafted into the magical display of talent we have grown to see. Running a personal best of 20.35 has placed him second on the Jamaican U20 all-time list; just behind the legendary Usain Bolt. “This is a big accomplishment for me, it goes to show that all my hard work is paying off and I am on the right track, staying focused and working twice as hard has its rewards” stated Taylor.
Answer: Football Question 4: Do you have a girlfriend? Answer: Yes Question 5: Which three top songs are on your playlist? Answer: “Stay Strong, Up Top and Champ”
Sub ten (10) king Asafa Powell and the legendary Usain Bolt remains Taylor’s biggest motivators; having attended the same basic and primary school as Asafa, reaffirms his drive that success is possible. In five (5) years, Taylor hopes his athletic career will provide him with the stability to better provide for his family and himself while conceptualising into a business mogul.
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A
nimation is conclusively one of the biggest industries globally, possessing some of the world’s most amazing graphic artist and storytelling we have seen, not being limited to our Caribbean nationalist. Cory Mills art and animations, reflects a comedic yet outlandish behaviour of his characters while sharing a story within the details; like most animators Mills curiosity was ignited by the movements of characters with the ability to create an idea into an art piece. “Having started animation a year ago and being selftaught from YouTube tutorials has been incredible, knowing that I am able to be a creator of my imagination� said Mills.
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Mills artistic style transcends to the keen detail of the subject in his art work as he ingeniously incorporates humour in the midst of his pieces through various character styles, whether it be cartoonist or more realistic. With such a viable industry, Mills can’t help but feel that the investment needed to grow and capitalize on animation, remains its strongest downfall. ”Honestly, I feel like there is not a lot of love and money put into this field, likewise the film industry, perhaps it is just not easy to market, so it is merely a tool used to advertise peoples business” Mills expressed. An artistic trait of his can be seen in all his art and animation with his attention to detail to human subjects, allowing a great profoundness in its most natural form. “Majority of my pieces are of people, being able to observe and capture the raw emotions of that individual is a trait throughout all my collection as it is my favourite piece to make.” Mills disclosed.
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T
he love for cooking combined with dreams of becoming a renowned chef are aspirations of Jasus Johnson, Raised in the rural side of Jamaica alongside his mother on a farm surrounded by a big family, where most days were like a cook out. “I think I was about seven (7) years old, when I climbed the counter top in efforts to make cornmeal porridge and as Jamaicans would say “Me finger them taste good”, it was one of the best.” said Johnson Johnson greatest joy has always been found in the midst of a kitchen, the art room of his creativity. “I have much to amass in the kitchen at just a young age of 22 years old. I took up the calling of the kitchen about 3 years ago at age nineteen and I haven’t stop. Looking forward to trying new dishes, new challenges and a heightened degree of the feeling food evokes” Johnson expressed. His first professional job started out at a local motel, where he prepared a range of dishes while refining his skills and finding signature spices to better delight the taste buds of each consumer. With such raw passion and talent it was no surprise to find him as the head chef at “DI Hub”, in Old Harbour, St. Catherine Jamaica, as he enchanted the customers with each bite. Johnson had this to say “I become overwhelmed seeing someone taking their first bite into a finished dish of mines, accompanied with a sign of pleasure and satisfaction. Even at that moment of first seeing the dish, it gives me that bliss, of great pleasure. An unwavering reward that continues to push me to continue on the path of becoming a world- renowned chef.” The craft and technique required in owning one’s skill in becoming a chef is just as important as learning to handle critics, Johnson recalled “I’ve had hard customers that reject my craft, but knowing I could do better I would ask for a chance to have the meal prepared to their specification which has aided me to grow and learn from my mistakes”. In hopes to one day meet his idol chef Gorden Ramsey, Johnson won’t be compared to other chefs in the industry “Persons who use their hands to express their craft, from Vincent Van Gogh to Edvard Munch; both great painters but has their own unique touch, as I believe confidence is what makes or breaks us” said Johnson. Having achieved so much in so little time, Johnson remains focus on his goal to be ranked one of the best in Jamaica, creating great dishes and travelling the world. Showcasing his “secret gravy sauce” and experiences.
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“I become overwhelmed seeing someone taking their first bite into a finish dish of mines, accompanied with a sign of pleasure and satisfaction...� Page 21
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tephanie Shaw specializes in the handmade craft of crochet, the art of interlocking loops of fabrics such as, yarn, thread or strands of other material using a crochet hook. The uniqueness of this craft eliminates any two items being the same, as the
overlay of patterns changes continuously. The self-taught enthusiast started out by mere curiosity, “I don’t recall the precise moment but I’ve always felt a calling, it was shortly after I decided to make a bikini for myself, which started out as trial and error for days” Shaw recalled
Crochet, the time labouring skill can take one to several hours to complete an item, which varies from earrings to swimwear from Shaw’s collection Krush. The brand “Krush” evokes a sense of seductiveness with a radiant yet eccentric feeling, leaving each piece of item breath taking. As with all businesses, the essential tools needed impacts the performance of said company which remains a struggle for her. “Majority of the materials and the variety is not available locally
which hampers the colour options and design style for my customers, while extending labour time in executing the product.” said Shaw The creative process in designing any item varies for each designer but as one would come to expect, Shaw visualizes a concept specifically for each customer. “It’s weird but when a customer explains to me the piece they have in mind, I immediately start seeing the product and even the colours that would best suit that customer and style.” Shaw shared
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“I don’t recall the precise moment but I’ve always felt a calling, it was shortly after I decided to make a bikini for myself, which started out as trial and error for days” Since the launch of Krush by Stephanie Shaw two (2) years ago, Shaw considers her greatest piece remains undone. “There is always some new technique to learn with different styles and patterns but looking back I have made exceptional growth and some amazing pieces over the years which is my greatest achievement” Shaw expressed. Handcrafted items holds tremendous tourism potential for Jamaica and the region at large, through various forms of cultural expression in the most tangible form, one that Shaw plans to
embark on. “My biggest dream is to one day own my very own handmade boutique while having my pieces in the hotel industry and launching my website in hopes that my brand Krush will one day become a household name”.
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he entertainment industry in Jamaica has vastly grown into a series of events infused by the growing cultural experience, through a wider variety the industry offers. With the change in dynamics we now see parties being held in the early hours of the morning, with huge patronage and sold out events in the middle of week. Feel So Unbelievable (FSU) is an entertainment group operated by five (5) partners, specializing in providing high quality, professional disc jockey and event management services while producing a mobile party like no other. “FSU believes in creating new experiences no club or other event can provide locally, with no two experiences ever being the same, we
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offer our clients the opportunity to maximize the fun while allowing us to serve their every need” said FSU. FSU entertainment has developed a package that allows clients to add their own personal touch to their desired experience, clients are allowed the option of choosing their own DJ, selecting the route and stops on the journey, among other options. When asked about the inspiration behind the brand, they had this to say. “The love for a good experience has been a binding factor in the development of this service while incorporating a high level of quality and professionalism throughout”. With such personalize party experience, confidentiality plays
a major role in the brands image and the exclusivity it offers as it thrives on the spirite of freedom and curiosity. “With the creativity of our clients the parties can be as wild as the imagination allows, offering the perfect get away from the norm of what partying is and can become” said FSU. With the capacity of hosting up to twenty-two (22) patrons, in a LED lit bus, smoke fumes and pole. FSU entertainment promises nothing less than a memorable experience. In the next 5 years FSU hopes to become number one (1) for creating great entertainment packages for any occasion and industry leaders who
innovate, provide employment, and give back to their community, while expanding their reach outside of the corporate area.
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hen someone utters or refers to the term “aftermarket”, more oftenthan not, they are referring to the automotive industry; one of the most sustainable and lucrative aftermarkets in world. But have you ever envisioned any such market for footwear, in Jamaica? Zanory Petgrave hails from the community of Point Hill in St. Catherine. With no job prospects after high school, the idea of venturing into footwear customization was inspired from an event he attended with the theme paint, where he first displayed his footwear design causing a stir among attending patrons.
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ince then, his artistic modification and enhancement of footwear has been in demand. “It brings me great happiness knowing I am able to share my talent with customers and creating their own expression on something we wear every day. Customizing one’s footwear can be as meaningful as a tattoo” Petgrave expressed Having carved out a niche for himself in footwear customization locally, Petgrave hopes to bring awareness to the non-traditional business opportunities that are available. “My interest in footwear customization lead me to do research online on similar trends in other parts of the world, in efforts to bring something different to Jamaica. So it all started from an idea.” shared Petgrave . Like any new venture, there are always periods of challenges. Petgrave, revealed that he had to overcome negative comments that come with his passion for customize painting and design for footwear. In several instances have yielded to the pressure of his work being shunned, with the belief that there was no future in splashing Rastafarian colours on shoes. Petgrave put his artistry on hold and decided to enroll in Distinction College to further his education just as society would have projected. However, after a few months he walked away because his love of art got the better of him. With a renewed energy, he establish is name under the brand ZTD Custom. Since then Petgrave has done work for the likes of popular roots reggae artist Luciano, Pinchers and Ken Booth. Other fans of his work include dancehall names such as Predator, Shankle Dip and JadaKingdom. When quizzed about his ability to remain viable and in
demand. He responded “I always strive to make my work unique, not limiting my imagination, and satisfying my customers”. said Petgrave.
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