Fuel Your Caribbean Creativity With Sloop Jones Originals

St. John’s rich history is reflected in its architecture with vibrant colors reminiscent of the sun and sea. This wealth of inspiration attracts a varied group of artists who call St. John home.

One of the island’s most colorful artist is Sloop Jones (aka Terry McKoy), who specializes in hand painted textiles featuring original designs with an unmistakable signature flair of vibrant hues. You’ll find his patterns on clothing, rugs, wall hangings and signage. Sloop Jones clothing is not only cool and comfortable, but also machine washable and practical for island living or travel.

What began with only 300 shirts and a box of paint in 1989, has grown into a thriving business with merchandise placed in a limited number of boutiques and resorts in the Caribbean and United States. Sloop’s studio, surrounded by tropical plants and flowers, is located at the easternmost corner of St. John in Hansen Bay.

Now for the fun part: You can create your own one-of-a-kind wearable art at one of Sloop’s workshops! He’ll walk you through the process of designing your masterpiece which will serve as a tropical reminder of your time on St. John. To make an appointment to visit Sloop’s studio or find out about his next workshop, email sjones@islands.vi or call 340-779-4001.