Charly Black’s daughter weaving success with crochet

Alicia Mendize, a 20-year-old crochet artist with a vibrant vision, wants to weave Jamaican colours and culture into her intricate designs as she aims to take her crochet creations to a global audience.

While her father, international recording artiste Charly Black, lights up stages with dancehall beats, Mendize has chosen a different artistic route. Steering away from the entertainment limelight, she weaves her own narrative through the graceful art of crochet. She envisions taking her creations worldwide, already receiving requests from clients in London, Germany, and the US.

"Before February, I will be shipping to those clients, so I am excited for that," she revealed.

Pricing her pieces based on the amount of yarn needed and the hours invested, Mendize has ambitious plans.

"I plan to create new designs that will differentiate me from other crochet businesses," she said.

With a passion for crafting unique patterns, Mendize is not just stitching yarn, she's crafting pieces that reflect her style and her mindset of crocheting being an art. She owns a business, Al's Crochet Vault, which she is using as more than just a creative outlet.

"I am aiming to obtain a bachelor's degree in business administration, so [my business] Al's Crochet Vault is helping me enhance my knowledge in my course of study."

Mendize's journey into crochet began last May, inspired by the crochet pieces she admired on social media. But she also draws on memories from her childhood.

"I remember when my grandmother used to crochet when she was younger, and I used to watch her. She used to teach me a little, but as she grew older she stopped," she said.

The spark reignited when Mendize stumbled upon a roll of her grandmother's yarn.

"I bought a hook, then I watched TikTok and YouTube videos. After practising and practising, I got the hang of it," she shared with a smile. Her 96-year-old grandmother, Agatha Fairman, takes pride in her granddaughter's venture, bonding over crochet.

"I always sit with her and crochet while she listens to the radio and watches me. Her fingers aren't so strong to crochet with me, but I am happy that we share those moments," said Mendize.

Encouraged by friends and family who admired her creations, Mendize turned her passion into a business. From ruffle and bucket hats to bikinis, skirts and shorts, she crafts a variety of items based on specific patterns. Balancing her roles as a student and a small business owner, Mendize crochets in the morning and attends classes in the evening at the University of Technology Western Campus in Montego Bay, St James.

"I love crocheting. I am obsessed with it. I go to bed with yarn and a hook in my hand," she giggled. Despite her busy schedule, Mendize faces minimal challenges, always eager to create and explore new patterns.