It’s Women’s Month and the Entrepreneur Weekly recognises the women who continue to shape Brand Jamaica in their own unique ways. One such woman is Nadine Thompson, founder of Naddzz Designs.
By profession, Nadine is a Registered Nurse. Her days are spent caring for patients. But outside of work, she creates something entirely different with her hands — crocheted handbags and scarves that women instantly fall in love with.
And if there is one thing women can agree on, it is this: women love bags. The right bag completes an outfit. It carries the small pieces of their everyday lives and often adds that final touch of confidence when stepping out.
Through Naddzz Designs, Nadine creates stylish crochet pieces including the quarter‑moon bags and knitted scarves that have become popular among customers.
A Skill Learned Early
Nadine first learned crochet as a child from a neighbour in her community. “I had a neighbour when I was in primary school who used to crochet doilies,” she recalled. “She taught me how to make chains and how to form the chain in a circle. That was just about it.”
Even with those simple lessons, Nadine developed an instinct for creating designs of her own. “If anything comes to my head, I will just make it,” she said. “Whatever comes out, it just comes out.”
For years the skill remained more of a hobby. That changed during the COVID‑19 pandemic when a conversation with one of her patients encouraged her to take crochet more seriously. “She said to me, ‘Nurse, your brother told me you can crochet. Why you stop?’”
When the Bags Became the Star
“I always loved crochet bags,” she said. “So I went to town, bought the thread and bag handles and started playing around to see what I could create.”
The response was immediate. “My bags are my best sellers,” she said. “Every show I go to, people compliment the finish of my items.”
Today, the bags, particularly the half‑moon designs, have become the signature of Naddzz Designs.
Support Along the Way
As Nadine’s creations began gaining attention, another opportunity soon emerged through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC). Her first interaction with the agency came when she decided to participate in the Christmas in July trade show.
“So, while I was there, another vendor told me that I need to be in the Things Jamaican™ stores,” she said. After the event she contacted the JBDC team. “And then I talked to Ms. McFarlane there,” Nadine said.
“When I went at JBDC… it was a team and they inspected the goods,” she explained. “They talked to me about different type of customers and what was the target market. They told me about packaging… and whatever items they checked. And I said, it is like they advised me on the way forward. And I took the advice and did what they told me to do.”
Discover Naddzz Designs
Today, Nadine continues supplying her crochet creations to Things Jamaican™, where Naddzz Designs is being highlighted as part of the Roots, Rhythm and Renewal campaign.
Customers can explore the collection online at www.thingsjamaicanshopping.com. Orders above US$85 qualify for free shipping, making it easy for members of the diaspora and local shoppers alike to support Jamaican brands.
For those who prefer the in‑store experience, Things Jamaican™ locations can be found at Devon House, 14 Camp Road, and at the Norman Manley International Airport. Join hundreds of Jamaican female manufacturers who have built sustainable businesses by becoming part of the JBDC family at www.jbdc.net.
Because sometimes the things women love most are the things women create.
