I'll be honest with you... the Fruit Collection almost didn't exist.
A few years ago, I signed up to be a vendor at a Mango Festival thinking, "Cute! This'll be fun." What I somehow completely missed was the part where vendors were supposed to have a mango-inspired product. And... I didn't have one. 🤣 I had Caribbean bags, thigh bags, all kinds of things — but absolutely nothing mango.
So now I'm sitting there like, "Well damn... I'm a bag designer. I guess I'm making a mango bag."
I designed it, showed up to the festival, and somehow people absolutely loved it. Looking back, that one last-minute decision completely changed the direction of my business.
One Mango Turned Into a Whole Collection
Online, people kept asking what was next. First it was, "Okay... now make a plantain." Then someone wanted a coconut. Before I knew it, one panic-designed mango tote had turned into an entire Fruit Collection inspired by the foods so many of us grew up with.
What I love most is that these bags make people smile before they even realize why. Then they get closer, recognize the fruit, and suddenly they're telling me stories about their grandmother's backyard, Saturday market trips, or climbing mango trees as kids. That's always been my favorite part. The bags start conversations.
Then I Got an Email I Never Expected
Fast forward a little, and I got a message from the Pérez Art Museum Miami asking about carrying the Fruit Collection in their museum shop.
I don't think I've ever answered an email so fast in my life. 😂
The crazy part is that I used to go to the Art Institute of Miami, literally across the street from PAMM. I was studying Digital Film, and we'd walk over to the museum on class field trips. I remember wandering through the galleries thinking they were beautiful, but never once imagining I'd come back years later carrying boxes with my own work inside.
Walking into that same building as a designer instead of a student was one of those moments where you kind of have to stop and laugh because life has a weird sense of humor
Why This Matters Beyond the Milestone
Being in the Pérez Art Museum Miami isn't just exciting because it's a museum. It's exciting because it feels like the Fruit Collection ended up exactly where it belongs.
These bags are colorful, playful, and inspired by Caribbean culture. They're conversations about food, identity, memories, and home. Seeing them in a space that celebrates creativity and cultural storytelling felt like one of those moments where everything suddenly made sense.
As a Caribbean-owned business, having that representation means more than I can probably put into words.
Where to Shop the Fruit Collection
If you want to get your hands on the Fruit Collection, you've got options:
🏦 In Person — Pérez Art Museum Miami Museum Shop
Visit the PAMM gift shop at 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132. The museum shop carries a curated selection of the Fruit Collection alongside other art-forward goods. It's worth the trip — and while you're there, explore the galleries too.
💻 Online — Right Here at Frangipani Palm
Of course, you can always shop the full Fruit Collection directly with us. Browse the Fruit Stand — Shaped Tote Bags and all tote bags here on our site, where you'll find the widest selection of Caribbean accessories, from fruit-shaped totes to flag bags and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who's supported Frangipani Palm from the beginning — from the Mango Festival to the museum. This one's for you. 🥭🌴