Kartel fuels demand for orange bandanas

Driven by a surge in demand for orange bandana handkerchiefs, several vendors in the Corporate Area are considering raising prices. The item has skyrocketed in popularity since dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel emerged from behind prison bars wearing two on his head.

"Di people dem wah di orange kerchief dem, some will buy the blue and the white because him wear dem deh too, in a him video dem. But yuh see di orange, a it dem really wah," said a vendor located in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

The vendor, who currently sell handkerchiefs for $150 each, told THE WEEKEND STAR that this increase in the demand came days following the entertainer's release. Kartel, whose given name is Adijah Palmer, along with Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones were freed by the Court of Appeal on July 31 after nearly 13 years behind bars. They were initially convicted of the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams and sentenced to life in prison.

"From di don duh road and walk out a prison wid di orange kerchief pan him face, a it di people dem want. It a sell off the quickest," the vendor said.

The sentiments were similar in downtown Kingston. One vendor who gave her name as Janet told THE WEEKEND STAR that there is now a difficulty getting orange handkerchiefs from her wholesalers.

"Right now if yuh check di wholesale, yuh barely a find nuh orange kerchief because it di people dem want," Janet said.

She sells a handkerchief for $100, but is considering increasing the price.

"To how mi see the people dem a buy up di orange kerchief, mi a think fi drop a $50 pan di price. All mi affi guh duh a mek sure seh mi always have the orange fi sell dem," Janet said, with a hefty laugh.

Socio-cultural analyst Professor Donna Hope said she is not surprised by the reported strong demand for orange bandana handkerchiefs, given Kartel's star power.

"It has become a trend because Kartel is a trendsetter and Kartel is very popular, not just with young people, but also with people from the inner city. They see him as a very important folk hero," Hope said.

"So whatever he does, the way he dresses, any slang he says, like 'Kiss mi baby'.... it's going to gain attention," she added.

"People were waiting for his return to the public in that very direct way, and when he came out of the prison with that thing around his head it made a very big impact, and so people want to mimic what he looks like, and kinda connect with him through that kind of dressing," Hope said.

Kartel has had a history of influencing behaviour among fans in Jamaica. He has been blamed for fuelling a skin-bleaching subculture. Similarly, the entertainer has been credited with leading a resurgence in demand for Clarks shoes on the island, following his massive hit song, Clarks, which features Popcaan.

Meanwhile, with the dancehall legend announcing that he will hold his 'freedom street' concert in December, vendors are convinced that a price hike for orange handkerchiefs, around the time of the event, could mean a windfall for them.

"Right now mi just wah hear seh Kartel a host a stage show, because dem time deh wi can raise dem to all a $500. Wi know di people dem would a buy dem out, and mi would a mek sure seh mi have all a di Kartel colours dem," one vendor said.