Three entrepreneurs from Aruba recently traveled to St. Maarten to take part in the Stimuleringsfonds pitch and presentation program, alongside five participants from Curaçao. The regional initiative brought together eight creative entrepreneurs working in fashion, design, art, and community-focused projects.
The Stimuleringsfonds supports creative and cultural development projects in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through grants, mentorship, and development programs aimed at strengthening the region’s creative sector.
One of the Aruban participants was 19-year-old designer and artist Al Arens, who has a visual impairment and is neurodivergent. For nearly a decade, Arens has shared his creative work through markets, murals, workshops, and social media. During the program, he presented ANTI, a fashion and creative project centered on alternative, queer, and neurodivergent communities in Aruba, with plans for a future fashion show and concept store.
Furniture designer Yonina Sint Jago also represented Aruba with Pal’i muhe, a sustainable furniture project inspired by Caribbean identity and heritage. Working primarily with sustainable wood, Sint Jago aims to create pieces that connect people through design while reflecting the spirit of the Caribbean.
The third Aruban participant was Anika Stevens, founder and creative director of FAIR BLVD, a cultural couture brand known for distinctive creations developed in collaboration with Indigenous artisan communities in Latin America. Stevens presented a project focused on developing a construction system for collectible cultural pieces, combining ancestral craftsmanship with structure, durability, and luxury-level presentation.
Together, the three Aruban participants represent a new generation of creative talent using art, fashion, craftsmanship, and design as tools for cultural expression and community impact.
