The name La Perle Noire was chosen because of the nickname given to Haiti, the pearl of the West Indies. Indeed, it is the history of this country that was the initial inspiration for the creation of our clothing line to put forward strong emancipation movements.
The name of the brand is also reminiscent of the boat of the same name, which was much coveted in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. By linking the history of a country in the same region and that of a boat that has sailed through a thousand places, our clothing line is committed to doing the same by highlighting historical, social, political and artistic facts, regardless of where they come from.
TOUSSAINT BREDA LOUVERTURE (1743-1803)
- Born in Santo Domingo on the Bréda plantation.
- Set free in 1776 and takes the name of the plantation where he grew up.
- Became prosperous thanks to her experience as a coachman and in medicine and acquired a plantation on which there were about ten slaves.
- Joined the revolt in 1791.
- Fighting alongside the Spanish two later.
- Change sides in 1795 for strategic reasons.
- Fights the English who leave the island after an agreement made with him in 1798.
- Proclaims a constitution giving him full powers for life in 1801, ignoring Paris.
- Captured by General Leclerc's troop sent by Bonaparte.
- Dies in Fort-de-Joux in 1803 of pneumonia.
Quote: "When I was knocked down, only the trunk of the tree of liberty was cut down in Santo Domingo, but it will grow back because its roots are deep and numerous".
JEAN-JACQUES DESSALINES(1758-1806)
- Born a slave and was bought by a free black man.
- Learns the art of combat from his aunt Toya also nicknamed Mantou.
- Took part in the general revolt alongside Dutty Bookman and then joined Toussaint Louverture in 1791.
- Fights alongside the Spanish under the orders of Toussaint Louverture.
- Earns a reputation as a fierce and violent man in battle.
- Becomes the new leader of the revolution after the capture of Toussaint Louverture in 1803.
- Seized the territory of Les Vertières which marked the victory of the slaves.
- The island was declared an independent state on January 1, 1804, and Dessalines named it Haiti in homage to the Tainos, the island's indigenous people who had been practically decimated by disease and massacres before the arrival of the black slaves.
- Dessalines dies in 1806 in a mutiny led by Henri Christophe and Alexandre Petion because of his regime considered totalitarian and abusive.
Famous quote: "We dared to be free, dare to be free by ourselves and for ourselves".
MARIE-JEANNE LAMARTINIÈRE (-- - --)
- Little information about her.
- Is said to have actively participated in the fighting against the French. Surout in the battle of Crete-à-Pierrot.
- Reputed to have been able to raise the morale of the troops with strength and character.
- Carried a handkerchief on his head and had a sword and rifle hanging from his belt.
- She would have been the companion of Louis Daure Lamartinière, then frequented Dessalines and would have been married to a distinguished officer named Larose.
Marie-Jeanne, like many others, promotes the active participation of women in this quest for freedom.
QUEEN ANACAONA (1474-1503)
- Born in the casique (province) of Xaragua, today called Léogâne.
- Is queen of his casique.
- Nicknamed the Golden Flower because of its great beauty.
- Mary the chief of the Maguana's casque, Caonabo.
- Launches an uprising against the Spanish invader.
- Is betrayed and captured by Nicolas De Ovando and dies hanged in 1503.
Anacaona, however, greatly marked the history of a people that was practically decimated by the ambitions of a conquering party.