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To speak the truth, the Caribbean island of Saba is not exactly a shopping paradise! People don't visit Saba or live there because of some cheap, duty-free products. What sells in Saba is simply unspoiled nature: And that is quite a lot nowadays!
In fact, most of the products available for shopping in Saba come from St. Maarten/St. Martin, where there is an international airport and a French one, as well as important harbor facilities. Those products are imported from St. Martin to Saba by ferry or small plane. So, if you decide to settle in Saba, all your household will have to be bought in or transited through St. Martin.
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Now this doesn't mean that you won't find some beautiful souvenir from the island to bring back home. Luckily, Saba can be proud of its several resident artists, who produce original and attractive art work: Paintings, glass work, jewelrey, Saba lace and much more items which don't wear the label "made in Hong Kong"!
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In first place ,there are several very talented painters, whose art work you can buy on different places of the island, for instance at Peanut Gallery in Windwardside. We especially like the art of Heleen Cornet, who often paints dramatic rain forest scenes on top of Mount Scenery and has participated in several international exhibitions. Also look around for paintings of Sandra Johnson and other excellent artists. |
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Make sure you don't miss the Glass Art Studio of JoBean Chambers, a glass artist who seduces with her extensive production of glass-flame formed objects, like jewels and decoration pieces. JoBean uses Venetian glass melted at a temperature of over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and crafts her fine jewelry with silver and gold. Jo Bean has shown her beautiful creations in galleries in the Caribbean and the United States. Ask at the Tourist Office how to get to her studio. |
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And then, there is the world-famous Saba lace. For long time, the life of Saba women has been shaped by the practice of drawn thread work, that they ended up selling in the US and many other parts of the world. This handicraft, also known as Spanish work, has been described in many books and became a unique symbol of the island, often called "Island of women" or "island of lace". Handkerchiefs, napkins, runners and table cloths are made with different stitches and in many patterns. Saba lace pieces are precious, but not always easy to find, so again, ask at the Tourist Office in Windwardside. |
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There are much more pieces of art, handicraft and island-made souvenirs to buy on Saba, and since the island is very small, it won't be difficult to find the shops and art galleries which offer them. We also suggest a visit to Saba Park: Since Saba is dedicated to nature preservation, you may find some nice souvenir about Saba's incomparable natural environment. Whatever you buy, this is an island where you can go shopping for authentic and unique souvenirs. |
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