Family or ‘fambili’, as Jamaicans love to say, is everything. And in business, it’s no different. Desilva Hall Designs honours this notion by placing family at the centre of its operations. When Belinda Hall started painting on recycled bottles at home in 2018, she was driven by survival. “I was home not working, so I had to think outside the box,” says Belinda. Using her artistic passion and a desire to stand out, she began painting on bottles – wine, rum, various glassware – transforming them into beautiful lamps, vases.
“We focus on upcycling to help keep the environment clean,” Belinda shares. “While we import some elements like lights, everything else is about recycling and creating.”
Today, Desilva Hall Designs tells the tale of how family, creativity, resilience and environmental consciousness meets to drive a booming business in the craft industry.
It’s a ‘Fambili’ Affair
Support from family has been invaluable. With Belinda unable to drive, her sisters Fiona and Marsha Hall’s essential contributions help navigate logistics and operations, an example of how family means real business advantages.
“My mom instilled in us the importance of helping each other. We grew up supporting each other, and that foundation has made this business possible. My dad helps me wash the bottles. When I didn’t have them, you know, you just pick them up and start washing them. Because that’s that value of family helping each other,” she explained.
From the business’s very name, which pays tribute to Belinda’s late mother, Christine DeSilva Campbell, to her sisters and father in handling production tasks, Belinda’s entrepreneurial story is a family affair.
Starting out without formal art training or extensive business experience, Belinda’s journey mirrors that of many self-starters navigating the often-rugged terrain of small-scale entrepreneurship in Jamaica. Trade shows like Government of Jamaica’s ‘Christmas in July’ have been instrumental in providing a platform to connect directly with customers and build a loyal following.
“During my first trade show, I didn’t have any customers initially,” she recalls, “but the reception was amazing, and I landed one major customer I’m still working with.”
With a loyal fan base, including members of her extended family who champion the brand, Desilva Hall Designs is poised to continue its growth. Belinda is experimenting with new products and designs each year, ensuring the business evolves while staying grounded in its core principles of creativity and environmental responsibility.
Fambili Legacy: ‘From Yaad Bonds to Yaad Brands’
As the flag bearer for authentic Jamaican Brands, Things Jamaican™ pushes 23 Family-owned businesses under its latest campaign ‘Fambili Legacy’. Desilva Hall Designs reflects a broader Jamaican pattern where family-owned businesses play a critical economic and social role. The bonds formed in the yaad are becoming yaad brands revered the world over.
Family-owned businesses constitute a significant percentage of Jamaica’s Micro, Small and Medium-sized (MSME) sector, accounting for upwards of 70% of employment and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contributions. These businesses are vehicles for intergenerational wealth, social mobility, and community.
Family is at the centre of some of your favourite Jamaican brands:
- Pure Chocolate
- Bartley’s All in Wood
- Liberton
- Chocollor Chocolate
- Home Choice
- Flavours of the Past
- Portland Authentic
- Perk Up
The campaign which spans May to July 2025 is a celebration and honouring of important relationships that make persons whole & grounded whilst understanding and appreciating their roots. Check out these brands at www.thingsjamaicanshopping.com.
If your family bonds are creating businesses, visit www.jbdc.net to start the journey to generational wealth with sound guidance in business operations.
