Mireille Delisme

Honoring Vodou, Honoring Ancestors

Born in Leogane, Haiti, one of Mireille Delisme’s first jobs was as a seamstress at a wedding dress factory. At the factory she learned sewing and intricate needlework, these skills eventually led her to pursue a career as an independent artist creating traditional Drapo Vodou (embroidered flags). Today she has innovated to include smaller clutches, wallets, and bags. Each item, adorned in beadwork, represents traditional Vodou deities or veves (religious symbols).

For Mireille and the 11 artisans she employs, the process begins by sketching the design with a pen on stretched cotton fabric. Using a needle and thread, artisans sew one bead at a time to bring the design to life. Thousands of beads may be sewn onto one flag alone. The veve or deity that is being portrayed determines the coloring. For example, Erzulie artwork will contain blue, red, and pink. Damballah artwork will have lots of greens, as the serpent god brings money and fertility. An Ayizan scene would be mostly done in red and yellow. For Mireille, paying homage to these deities is not just about present desires, but it “carries traditions from our ancestors brought to the Caribbean by force. Our Iwas (spirits) gave us strength and courage to fight for our freedom. I am proud to carry on the tradition of my ancestors through my artwork.” 

Today Mireille’s workshop is located in Port-au-Prince. Over the past couple of years the population has been at the mercy of gang violence. Despite this volatile time, Mireille “is committed to staying in Haiti and supporting her community, though the precarious situation makes it a real challenge. Many days, the workshop closes early or stays closed due to the insecurity. The cost of living continues to rise and the family income can no longer support daily basic necessities. Mireille hopes the Market will continue to support her craft that creates opportunities to keep Haitian culture alive worldwide.’