THE HYDESMAN POST

On September 21st, as Belize marked Independence Day, Guatemalan naval vessels intruded near Punta Gorda’s southern waters. For Peini, the Garifuna heart of Belize, this was more than geopolitics, it was a threat to living culture. From logwood dyes that once colored Europe’s fashions to Garifuna labor in mahogany camps, Belize has long fueled global luxury. Today, as designer and author-king, I argue fashion must defend the heritage it draws from, before conflict erases it.