About Us
The Maker Behind Ackee Tree
I’m Kimberly. I was born and raised in Jamaica and now live in North Carolina, and Ackee Tree Clothing started because I missed home.
When you grow up surrounded by bandana fabric at Independence celebrations, African print at cultural events, and clothing that actually means something, you notice when it’s gone.
After moving to the U.S., I couldn’t find pieces that felt authentic. Not costume-like. Not mass produced. Not a watered-down version of the real thing. So I taught myself to sew and started making them.
That was the beginning.
Today, I make every piece by hand in my North Carolina studio. Baby rompers, children’s skirts and dresses, suspender skirts, leotards, bow ties, Jamaican bandana sets, African wax print skirts, and matching family pieces. Every single one cut, sewn, and finished by me. Nothing comes from a warehouse. Nothing is rushed.
The name comes from the ackee tree, which is Jamaica’s national fruit tree. Deeply rooted. That’s the energy I want in everything I create.
Most of my customers are Caribbean families and diaspora communities who want clothing that celebrates where they come from without looking like it came from a party supply aisle. Parents dressing kids for Culture Day. Women who want a skirt that turns heads at church. Families planning Jamaica Independence celebrations.
But you don’t have to be Jamaican or Afrocentric to shop here. My personal style is for Boho pieces, and so you’ll find Boho inspired designs especially for my kids clothing. You just have to appreciate real craftsmanship and clothing with a story behind it.
I’m self-taught. I learned by doing, and by unpicking plenty of seams and starting over. That process made me care deeply about fit, fabric quality, and finishing details.
Custom sizes are available on select styles. Most pieces are made to order. If something isn’t right, I fix it. That’s not a policy. That’s how I work.
When you shop at Ackee Tree, you’re supporting one person sewing in North Carolina. I don’t take that lightly. I’m grateful for every single order.
Thank you for being here.
Regards,
Kimberly
Handmade in North Carolina
Inspired by Boho Styles and Jamaican and African Textiles